Summary of the Questionnaire Responses from the APC Symposium in Tokyo

The following is a summary of the responses from a total of 19 participants to the Questionnaire prepared by the APC Tokyo Liaison Office.

1. How did you learn about the APC Symposium of Dec. 10, 2017?

　ML (APC-Tokyo, JSMR, SIETAR, TCW) 　 8 

　Friends/Acquaintances 　　 14 

　The APC Proposal Team   　 3　 

　Others　　　　  　　　　　  1　　 

　（N.B. Multiple answers observed）

2. What was your general impression of the symposium? 

• I was surprised by the fact that the number of participants were much more than I expected and was impressed by their strong interest on this proposal. 

•  I learned quite a lot from the discussion. Personally, I wanted to hear more about the proposal.

• It was a good session in which various opinions were actively exchanged. 

• Since the project is designed mainly for the next generation, I thought the proposal team should include younger people, adopting the culture of the youth.

• The session was more like an APC Orientation or APC Rally, rather than APC Symposium, with a focus on what kinds of people are in the project and in what ways they are involved in the building of the APC. It was truly a significant meeting that contributed a great deal to the realization of APC. 

• Listening to the views of the many participants was a quite a good learning experience. I strongly felt that this particular project is a very important one about which the young generation must be informed.

• The proposal is excellent. I recognized once again that this proposal should be materialized. 

• Outstanding project. I would like to follow the development of this project, and to express my own opinions. 

• It was very interesting for me to hear the details of the proposal and the various opinions about each aspect of the proposal.　

• I was impressed by the strong enthusiasm of the people concerned with this proposal.

• I wanted to listen more to the speech of each discussant. Perhaps time management of the meeting was not well made. However, the whole idea itself is really interesting and I believe that if materialized, the center will have considerable influence on Asia. As Prof. Kabira pointed out, it is extremely important for the proposal team to conduct marketing and needs survey research. With this in mind, I hope that the proposal team will involve young people to make it more meaningful. 

• I felt a sense of fulfillment by attending the session, 

• I was in the session today listening to various talks with such intercultural problems as North Korea and Sumo Incidents in mind. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Mr. Takayama told us that he had predicted about 20 years ago that Japan would face strong anti-Japanese feelings from neighbor countries. What an insight he had! It was really surprising to me. Today, people are freely using SNS, saying freely whatever they think and feel. The lack of literacy on the part of the consumers in SNS is something really horrible. Also, the Japanese media is unquestionably irresponsible for what they are reporting. Under such circumstances, I really think APC is necessary. Talking with each other face-to-face among people of Asia (of course not from the eyes of the upper class) and directly contacting each other is needed so badly now．By so doing, people are connected and related to each other. I think that the media (SNS) literacy should be taken up as an intercultural joint research project at APC. In this connection, I wanted to hear Prof. Yamazato’ talk much more. 

• I had heard about the APC Proposal Team, but by participating in this symposium I was able to learn more about the ideas and ways of thinking behind the proposal. 

• I felt strongly that the roadmap for the materialization of the proposal is not clear. One thing about the proposal about which I am concerned is whether the standpoint of the APC is clear enough or not. For example, pacifism has a different connotation depending on the position one takes toward pacifism. What kind of interest are you holding? That is the question. I guess that your idea seems to reflect the Japanese interest (not the interest of the government) in terms of Japan’ relationship with Asia and U.S.

• While I think the symposium was designed to make a platform for free conversation, it did not serve that purpose. There was a lack of opportunities to hear and have conversations with everyone. I should say that the symposium should have incorporated a workshop style.

• I am convinced that this project (APC) will surely serve as an extremely important base for us, the younger generation. I would love to be involved in this project in the future. 

• I was impressed by the fact that this project has been worked on since 2012/2013 – which means that a very careful preparation is being carried out. 

• We are currently living in Japan where postwar pacifism is somewhat in danger. I felt that this project is trying to maintain Japanese pacifism.

3. Tasks necessary for Materialization of the Proposal  

• Is there any way that APC is mainly operated as a private entity? I am afraid that APC will not be able to maintain its independence if it is run by the national government. 

• In order to materialize this important project we need to identify someone who might be able to lead this particular project.

• Even at this stage of development, younger people should participate in this project. 

• The majority of participants were university professors. As a first step, why don’t you set up, an educational program of intercultural understanding for university students in Okinawa, and promote exchange programs with international students over there. To put it another way, you could make domestic study programs (mainland Japanese students visiting Okinawa), first of all. 

• I think it is necessary for the APC to involve not only the people in academics but also grassroots business people. 

 • As a strategy, I think that university students in Japan should be provided the place where they can learn intercultural understanding. There should be a training session for the students in each university to learn in Okinawa. I think one of the important functions the APC is planning to introduce would materialize if the University of the Ryukyus could provide a system to accept a group of students from each seminar class of mainland Japanese universities. 

• The biggest challenge is raising money for the APC. It is very hard indeed.

• The provision of Money. 

• I would like to know more about how you are carrying out the project.

• Securing the funding for the operation.

• Time Scheduling, Funding Plan, People, Goods, Money

• Young people should join the management team.

• APC should make full use of the Internet.

• The film (shown right after the symposium): The story of the Foundation Stone of Peace (Former Governor Masahide Ohta of Okinawa Prefecture) was good. I saw this film for the first time.

• The question is whether the APC can start its operation by combining the opinions of various people without losing its sense of direction. I am afraid that if many more people are involved, the more difficult it is to materialize.

• I look forward to seeing a clearer path for the materialization of the APC.

• I think that hereafter the proposal team should involve the people from Asia Pacific Region as soon as possible.

• How would the organization operate? I am afraid that with government funding, the organization will be somewhat rigidly controlled, losing its original spirit of private cultural exchange. 

• How should we involve the people of the young generation in our endeavor (in terms of staffing and researchers)? What do you really mean by sustainable future and peace. I would like to know more about what the APC is thinking about these concepts.

• The concept (as for content) is more or less clear, but nothing is known about the organizational aspect. 

4. Expectations & Requests 

• I want to participate as a member of the proposal team.

• I want to join this kind of meeting again. I really want you to keep sharing information concerning this project.

• I am currently in charge of international exchange programs and so I think I have the know-how and skills in managing people of multicultural groups. I think I am in a position to give proper advice on how the international students could learn at the center and live in the dormitories when the APC is about to be operated in Okinawa 

• I want to be a member of the team that might be organized to share their knowledge and skills for the training program of transcultural leadership. 

• I would like to attend another symposium if you plan one. 

• In my humble way, I would really like to support and assist your team if there is anything I can do. 

• I am willing to be involved in the pursuit of this project. Particularly, I would like to share with the proposal team how we think about the three elements of sustainability, i.e., environment, society, and economy.

• A timeline or time flow of the project would be helpful.

• Since I am involved in the professional organizations, such as, the OB network, I would be happy to extend my cooperation to you.