What is the "righteousness" of the Prime Minister of Japan?

Interview with Keidanren Tokura New Chairman June 10, 15:55

"There is no courage to see righteousness."

Masakazu Tokura, who suddenly became the new chairman of Keidanren in place of Hiroaki Nakanishi, who retired in the middle of his term, expressed his feelings at the press conference.

Mr. Tokura inherited the baton of the "Prime Minister of the Business World" amid a number of issues such as the economic recovery that was depressed by the influence of the new corona, the realization of a carbon-free society, and the conflict between the United States and China.

How do you deal with domestic and international issues?

What is the "righteousness" of the new chairman?

I heard the story.

(Kentaro Yamada, Reporter, Ministry of Economic Affairs)

“Aspiring and doing everything”

Mr. Tokura, chairman of the major chemical manufacturer "Sumitomo Chemical".

Mr. Nakanishi was nominated as the successor to Mr. Nakanishi, saying that the top management who knows the actual situation of the manufacturing industry where interests are intertwined is suitable for the business community to work together to "realize a carbon-free society."

Ｑ What are your frank feelings now as chairman?

I was worried when I was asked to take office as

Chairman Tokura

, but since I accepted it, I am ambitious and want to devote all my energy.

For seven years, I have been working with Keidanren, including the Vice Chairman.

I think I know what Mr. Nakanishi wanted to do, his philosophy and values, and his thoughts on capitalism and science and technology.

Now I feel that I have to do my best to tackle the difficult problems that Japan faces.

I felt that Mr. Nakanishi was trying to finish the work for the rest of his term.

I think it's my role to take over that.

Q What is your current awareness of the challenges facing the Japanese economy?

Chairman Tokura

Needless to say, the short-term issue is overcoming the new coronavirus.

Without this, the Japanese economy will not return to its original trajectory.

The medium- to long-term issue is excessive capitalism.

In other words, it is creating widening and fixation of disparities combined with globalism.

Until now, the economy and society have focused on efficiency and have destroyed ecosystems.

I think that the problems of global warming and the new corona are also the result of population growth and human activity increasing unstoppably.

We must correct excessive capitalism, establish sustainable capitalism, stop global warming, and leave the earth for the next generation.

It is necessary to think deeply about what the Japanese business community should do.

Of course, even if only Japan tackles these issues, other countries must do it, so we must do it through international cooperation in cooperation with countries that share the same values, such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Green transformation”

The realization of a carbon-free society is also an urgent issue for the business community.

At the inaugural press conference, Chairman Tokura announced his intention to call on more than 60 industries and formulate an action plan for Keidanren in October.

In 2020, Prime Minister Suga announced that he would aim for carbon neutrality in 2050, and in April, he also set a new goal of aiming for a 46% reduction toward 2030 compared to 2013.

As government goals have been announced one after another, the business community is also under pressure to take a step-by-step approach.

Q How do you approach the government goals as a business community?

Chairman Tokura The

company has two aspects: "duty" to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by itself, and "contribution" to develop products and make them useful to the world.

By aiming for both sides at the same time, it will be an opportunity for big business and growth.

Japan should aim for green growth through science and technology.

Some people think that innovation will be manageable because carbon neutrality in 2050 is a long way off, but in reality, there is no time.

It will take five years just to solidify the basic technology required for development, conduct a social demonstration, and further increase the scale of the demonstration.

It must be seen that it will take 15 to 20 years if improvements are made from there.

It's not ahead, it's just right now.

Keidanren will make an action plan and put more effort into it.

Since 40% of Japan's carbon dioxide emissions come from thermal power generation, the first thing to do is to bring as much electricity as possible to decarbonization.

About 60% of the non-electricity comes from industries that are responsible for the manufacturing process, such as steel and chemical products.

This part is electrified or hydrogen is used.

All industries need to innovate to change the process of reducing greenhouse gases.

It's not easy, but on the other hand it grows the industry.

We have to do "green transformation" in Japan as a whole.

I'll do this even if I cling to a stone.

Nuclear calm discussion

Q What do you think of energy alternatives to fossil fuels for the decarbonization of electricity?

Chairman Tokura

is trying to bring about various innovations toward 2050, but only a few can contribute to the 2030 target.

It would be nice if it could be done with renewable energy, but Japan has few flatlands.

It's hard to get more sunlight.

Offshore wind power also takes time to construct by conducting an environmental assessment.

After all it is clean in the sense that nuclear power does not emit carbon dioxide.

Those that have been confirmed to be safe and have the understanding of the local residents must be moved promptly.

I understand that safety cannot be divided by science or logic alone, but we should have a calm discussion about nuclear power while giving consideration to security.

I think the worst thing is not to discuss.

US-China conflict, Japan in "cooperation and competition"

The confrontation between the huge markets of the United States and China is also a challenge facing Japanese companies.

With the emergence of "decoupling" movements that cut off economic ties with China, the Biden administration is trying to build a supply chain that does not rely on China in fields such as semiconductors.

The need to be more sensitive to the outflow of technology related to the security field to China is also increasing, and we are in a difficult position.

Q How do you deal with the increasingly complex geopolitical risks?

In Tokura's

idealism, freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Here we have to unite in countries with the same aspirations and values.

However, the world is connected, and there can be no world without China.

China must contribute to the world through its economy and peace.

Multilateralism is important, as it remains an important partner, where it should compete, where it should cooperate, and where it should cooperate.

Economic security must be promoted firmly in cooperation with politics.

What Keidanren should be

Restoring the transmission power of Keidanren, which has been pointed out as having a reduced presence, is also an issue.

Chairman Tokura argues that Keidanren should aim to be an organization that is widely supported by society.

Q How do you perceive the indication that Keidanren's influence is declining?

Chairman Tokura

Keidanren has been regarded as a representative of the interests of the business world, but now it is not possible to discuss the separation of companies / economy and society.

Keidanren, the business world as a whole must be given a more social perspective, and capitalism and the market economy must be rebuilt.

By doing so, I think that Keidanren's ability to communicate will increase.

Keidanren, which considers only the interests of the business world, is separated from society.

It may be a detour, but I think that having a social perspective will lead to the recovery of the ability to communicate.

In order to value communication with society, I would like to actively exchange opinions with local economic organizations.

We are also collaborating with start-up companies to innovate, and have begun collaborating with universities to regain the power of science at the core.

I want to do various things.

Q The prime minister of the business world is also required to say things to the government.

Chairman Tokura

The relationship between politics and the economy does not mean that the politics and the economy are at the mercy of the economy, but that the politics and the economy must communicate well and determine the direction.

Under such circumstances, I would like to actively express my opinion as a business community.

Chairman Tokura aims to become a "Keidanren supported by society."

At the inaugural press conference, he made an urgent recommendation that vaccination should be accelerated.

However, corporate interests are involved in decarbonization and the US-China conflict, and public opinion is divided on energy issues.

Reforms aimed at breaking vested interests and deregulating are also essential for fostering startups and corporate innovation.

In the business world where there are many challenges, can Chairman Tokura stick to "righteousness"?

I would like to cover those remarks and actions.

Kentaro Yamada,

Reporter, Economic Department

Joined in 2002

After being in charge of

automobile and electrical equipment manufacturers

, he

was in charge

of the

business world of

three economic organizations.