Making Osaka a Citizens’ City
--A Chain of Our Gifts--

Introduction

Ceaselessly the river flows, and yet the water is never the same, while in the still pools the shifting foam gathers and is gone, never staying for a moment. Even so is man and his habitation.

This opening passage of the Hojoki,( "An Account of My Hut" or "The Ten Foot Square Hut") written by Kamo no Chomei in 1212, expresses the evanescence of everything in life, the notion that nothing lasts forever and that all that prospers must decline. Likewise, cities change daily, and nothing can stop the passage of time. Change is a normal condition in this world, where nobody is given eternal life. Osaka, as a city, cannot continue to exist without change. Any assembly of people, be it a State, a region or a smaller community, survives through change. If it can go on even in this evanescent world, it is because each generation of people inspires new life into it. The present is the interface of those who preceded us and those who will succeed us. We keep and treasure a chain of “gifts” from generation to generation that include values, material goods, social systems and other tangible and intangible assets that can influence future generations. It is our responsibility to take care of these “gifts” entrusted from the past and hand them over to the future. In addition to this diachronic responsibility, we also have the synchronic responsibility to care about all those who live in the same era and understand our relations with them so that we can make the very best use of these “gifts” and enrich them before presenting them to future generations. This is one “truth” that does not change.

Making Osaka a Citizens’ City with the City’s All-Out Power

Osaka does not belong to us alone. In addition to us as present-day residents, it also belongs to our elders and future residents. Among them, we have the heaviest responsibility of orienting the city’s future. We have the mission of drawing out the very best of Osaka. In the Edo period, Osaka prospered as a waterfront city with numerous bridges and the “nation’s kitchen,” laying the foundation for its vibrant townsfolk culture and residents’ autonomous rule. At the time of reorganization in the Showa era, Osaka became a megalopolis with an expanding population. Today, we, fully aware of our responsibility for the city’s future, must take action so as to bring about the best benefits to Osaka, accurately understanding the city’s mechanism as an ordinance-designated city but not allowing the municipal system, instituted in the Meiji era under different circumstances, to limit our vision. First of all, we must identify areas that are not covered by local government and set our narrow- and wide-focused goals in city-building in a way that is only possible by non-governmental parties. Each of us can create great synergy by taking action as a fully aware, active main player in this city-building movement who serves as a bridge between the general public and government. We can then make Osaka a citizens’ city in the true sense of the term, founded on people’s power, firm commitment to city-building and profound love of our hometown.

Osaka, a Citizens’ City Founded on Citizens’ Sovereignty

It has been 84 years since the movement for sovereignty of the people commenced in Japan as part of the Taisho Democracy trend. The movement, which resulted in the abolition of tax qualifications for voting and the institution of a universal suffrage, has remained strong throughout the pre- and post-war years. Yet, the actual practice of citizenship is not very active. The turnout at the last mayoral election in Osaka was only 44%, which means that more than half the Osaka electorate abstained. There is a huge obstacle to realizing our vision of “Osaka as a citizens’ city” founded on the people’s sovereignty. Citizens’ sovereignty is not just about voting and checking if politicians’ campaign promises stated in their manifesto have been kept. It is also about getting people’s voices directly reflected in politicians’ manifestos and influencing policy issues. It is proactive in nature. The vision of “Osaka as a citizens’ city” should guide us in our becoming more proactive citizens in the coming years. The year 2010 will be a historic year in Japan since the referendum law will come into force in view of revising the Constitution. Active debates on the Constitution should unfold before a referendum, compelling every one of us to contemplate what we should do, what role we should play and whether it is possible to play such a role. As conscious citizens, we must actively work in a complementary way with the local government and engage in concrete self-governing activities that are possible only by the private sector, activities that are desired by local residents and serve public, not private, interest. City-building aims at enriching our “gifts” for future generations with synergy created among all parties involved with fully awareness of their respective active roles.

Enriching Our “Gifts”　――Communicating with Our Heart, Eyes, Ears and Actions

Chaotic school situations and other degenerative phenomena surrounding youth are attracting society’s attention today. In reality, however, most people are hardly trying to understand what is really happening, as they focus on figuring out who is to blame, confused by sensational reporting by the mass media. For children to develop into adults with their own ideas, it is necessary for them to become aware of their existence in the chain of “gifts” that continues from the past to the present and the future. Once, with this knowledge, they reevaluate their relationships with others, including their friends, parents, teachers and adults in general, and recognize them for who they are and become grateful for them, then they can embrace the “truth.” Effective messages that touch their heart should come from the heart, include auditory or visual signs and be accompanied with action, although messages can be expressed in various ways. Such messages can touch the core of young people’s hearts and deepen their future character formation, as does a dramatic story. In this age of instant communication, face-to-face interaction to exchange such messages, accept each other and build mutual trust and share and enrich the “gifts” can be a great driving force to realizing Osaka as a citizens’ city.

Building Future on the “Truth” with Personal Knowledge
――“The Fact”: First Learn the Facts; Discrimination and Destruction Begin with Ignorance.

Around the world, there are young people who consider their personal mission in life as their “gift” for future generations, get actively involved in society and widely share their views with their contemporaries. To build a future founded on the “truth,” we must develop our respective “gifts” into assets concretely positioned on the coordinates of the world and time. This requires a forum where forward-looking young people active around the world can meet and discuss their communities and their activities. Personal encounters with those embracing various forms of “gift” can be an invaluable asset. People encountering each other face to face and building personal ties of trust in this manner rarely end up fighting against each other. Knowing someone in this way enables you to put yourself in their shoes. Sharing the “truth” founded on mutual understanding coming from personal knowledge can be a formidable unifier and pulling force for the world. We must feel the world move with our senses to reflect on our past, shape our future way of living and make decisions every day. What is happening in the world and in Japan are one and the same and yet can be interpreted in any number of ways. The beginning should be the feeling of gratitude even for the most basic things in life, and we should spread the importance of gratitude. Discrimination and destruction begin with ignorance. We should strive for a world where everyone is aware of the importance of personal knowledge, deeply embraces the “truth” and lives autonomously with the feeling of gratitude.

From Osaka to the World　――Toward a successful World Congress of the Ever-Progressing JCI

In 2010, Osaka will host the JCI World Congress. The significance of our hosting the World Congress lies in the opportunity the event presents for revitalizing Osaka, meeting with fellow JC members from around the world to share views about the future, and acting out and spreading the spirit of “Active Citizen” adopted by the JCI. Accordingly, it is only natural for us to continue our vigorous activities locally to realize “Osaka as a citizens’ city” and demonstrate that we are indeed Active Citizens. We are charged with the mission of showing our fellow JC members from around the world the full spectrum of possibilities for JC activities and leading the world’s new step into the future at the World Congress, from which positive energy should flow from Osaka City to Osaka Prefecture, Kansai area, Japan and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, we must continue reviewing our activities, developing our ideas for Osaka’s city development and making proposals for the maximum synergy effect. In other words, we must act with a firm determination to launch a JC Initiative to make Osaka shine.

Raising our “Torch of Will” High

It was immediately after the war that the JC Osaka declared its foundation with the slogan “youth is the source of every value.” In those days, JC Osaka was strongly committed to Japan’s post-war recovery, with activities designed on the themes of the country’s economic restoration and return to the international community. As time passed, priorities in our JC activities have changed dramatically. Economic restoration in search of material enrichment and international activities focused on reintegration into the international community are things of the past. Today, we place the spirit of service at the core of our activities and seek self-discovery in the “truth,” the establishment of an individual sense of belonging founded on love of family, community and the country, and the realization of “Osaka as a citizens’ city” through the demonstration of our love of our hometown and citizenship.

Sixty years’ history of the JC Osaka has formed a chain of will that unites one generation with another, a brilliantly shining spirit of social service. Now it is time to bring together our personal torches of will into one large bright flame to show to the whole world.

Respect all--remember the feeling of gratitude in the “truth,”
As citizens of one world, who live in the same era,
Spread the torch of will from Osaka to unite the world.

Let us make the most of our time, and let us invigorate this city.
May all that exists anywhere at any time and the past, the present and the future be with us always…