The “new Japanese” are not different in the least from their fathers and grandfathers in the sense of rejoicing at each and every one of these selfless and unselfish contributions.
If anything has changed, it is that women will be both the target recipients of, and the people responsible for, Japan’s support and cooperation with increasing frequency.
Bear in mind that all three of the Japanese who helped create the civil code and the code of civil procedure in Cambodia were young female judges and public prosecutors. It was in August 2011 that President
Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines and Chairman Murad Ibrahim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front held their top level meeting in Narita, Japan. It was March of this year that a comprehensive peace agreement was finally reached between the two sides.
Two years from now, the Bansamoro local government will finally let out its first cry as a newborn. Now, to help support the locals, in what areas is the Japanese assistance team concentrating their investment?
One area is having women gain enough ability to make a living. In Mindanao, Japan built a vocational training centre for women. What now echoes through Mindanao, where the sounds of gunshots and angry cries have disappeared, is the light whir of sewing machines women are operating.
Given the fact that at the end of the day, the growth engine continues to be human beings and are likely to be women placed in an unfair and disadvantaged position, as has been the case until now, the “new Japanese” are people who spare no effort to improve the abilities of these people. |
