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Profile of Takashi Kiuchi
After capitalism I think we will have a new [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: After capitalism I think we will have a new version, a new capitalism which I call natural capitalism. The present capitalism does not take into consideration the limit of earth, limit of this planet. The new capitalism, natural capitalism, will take into consideration of the design of what nature has and limit of what nature has. For instance, until now, when we talk about productivity, we are putting so much effort to improve labor productivity, [inaudible] productivity; but the new capitalism, national capitalism, will put much much more emphasis on missiles productivity. At the same time we will study, analyze how nature operates because nature has a perfect sustainable system; and it is us people who destroy it.
No, it is, it is possible. But it has [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: No, it is, it is possible. But it has certain limits because before corporate social responsibility, we have personal social responsibility. Personal social responsibility, PSR, is a base. And since our PSR is very questionable that is a reason why our corporate social responsibility is not effective, is not powerful enough. I think we put too much emphasis on the corporate side; but before corporations, before the corporate side, we have this individual personal social responsibility which plays a vital importance in any social responsibility we talk about. It is the individual and personal responsibility which starts all kinds of different social responsibilities.
We should not undervalue women's power or [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We should not undervalue women's power or current women's power. I think we have a tendency to overvalue all those men's activities because they are more visible; but behind the scenes, there are tremendous amounts of women's activities which should be properly evaluated. Current society depends so much on each individual and each individual is here because women's power. You call it feminism, but it is mother's role that I'm talking about.
Answer is no. Our education system is far [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Answer is no. Our education system is far from our expectation. Of most importance in education is education within family. I tend to believe that, not necessarily the first three years, but first five to six years until the children become the age of elementary school. So, before elementary school starts, that is a critical six years for each individual and that is what I call the through education. Education system begins after that. And unfortunately education system after school age, after seven years of age, has so much limitations to change personality, characteristics of each individual.
Our responsibility is huge. AIDS, poverty, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Our responsibility is huge. AIDS, poverty, all kinds of unfortunate things happening in Africa is our responsibility. It is our responsibility to put all those African people in a huge progress. We must take it as our responsibility-- no question about that.
Well the answer is no. But since we are used [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well the answer is no. But since we are used to think our life is more valuable and because of that we've been doing so many things unconsciously without putting enough consideration into what we do. And we don't know -- we don't realize how much damage we are doing. We are destroying the mother system because we put more value and we think we are above other lives. And believe me now we have begun to notice the outcome of what we have been doing. And in the foreseeable future, something like within 30, 50, 80 years, we will notice the result outcome of what we were doing and that is so damaging.
The answer is that globalization promotes [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The answer is that globalization promotes dictatorship. Globalization is not necessarily a good thing. Because through globalization we loose so many things. For instance, because of globalization we tend to lose all the good things each nation or each region used to have. Globalization is for the selfish reason, mainly an economic reason, if that globalization is successful then some individuals or some groups tend to have a huge power as a result. The other has dictatorship. I think we can dream about the size or the magnitude of what we do.
I think because you know what the country [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I think because you know what the country does to you. And people, whether you are black or white or whatever are in very weak creature. We like to depend on something. And because of that, they love and defend their countries.
The answer is: right to live. All right? And [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The answer is: right to live. All right? And maybe I can put the right to have a decent life. That's what I call the basic dignities.
Well it's a matter of distribution, all [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well it's a matter of distribution, all right. We are not in a justice society. We must know that the fact that whether it's in the food industry or in any other industries we don't have, until now, the right distribution system. When I say, "right," I’m talking about the distribution which is justified because of the various reasons such as what we're talking about here. Distribution has a tendency to accumulate economic activities, profitabilities and other things and until now, even though we know so many things about what's going on in those poor countries, we have ignored to create a justifiable distribution system.
Our economic system inherently corrupt; yes, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Our economic system inherently corrupt; yes, that's a fact. But what we should be aware of is the fact that we've been putting too much expectations on the current economic system. And until we realize that we have more important things out there than what the economic system creates for us, corruption we will be there until we change our value system; money, wealth or what we have is not necessarily so important to our life. There are more important things than economic reasons, and until we are aware of this and we get comfortable with other values, this corruption will stay with us. It's a very unfortunate thing.
The economic system which we created is [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The economic system which we created is based on unfortunately on the selfishness and egoists reason. That's why it has a conflict with human, animal and planet rights. We've been having this kind of economic system for the last more than 1,000 years, and because of that selfishness, - selfishness and egoism, now we have started realizing the shortcomings and all kinds of defective aspects of the economic system we have. Since we now are aware of this, and not too much time is left in front of us, we have to put in new factors in order to create an economic system which is viable for this century. And I call it "natural economic system." We have to take into consideration what nature has. It's a design of nature and that is what we need to incorporate and accommodate into our economic system.
It's not difficult for a very good reason. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It's not difficult for a very good reason. All those people in the Western States have exploited Africa. As simple as that. But we should not give up on this though. Since we know that centuries ago we did that, and now we have begun to realize that we can learn from Africa so much.
It is not socially acceptable. It is not. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It is not socially acceptable. It is not. It is a capitalism we have created and ours to accumulate wealth for some selfish or personal reasons, but it is not acceptable. We should know that. The reason behind it, the impasse we have between the wealthy people and the poor, has created so many injustices and all kinds of non-peaceable situations, and many people suffer from that and we must stop. We know that to stop that suffering or get out of it we must come up with a new type of economic system, and I like to call it "natural capitalism." We should take into consideration on how nature operates, and until we start considering how to do that or adopting that new capitalism which I call "natural capitalism," I don't think we can get out of this.
Oh come on! One time I even thought that law [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Oh come on! One time I even thought that law is there to be broken. Law is not necessarily almighty nor is right. And sometimes, please, if you have confidence or strong belief that you have to break the law, fine. That kind of actions, not necessarily always, but result in something very creative, the next step, we like to step on. So don't take law for granted and put enough thinking in it to break the law whenever you think it is necessary.
We do not have to reconcile respect for [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We do not have to reconcile respect for universal human rights with any other values because any other values, traditional or religious values, should be maintained by any reasons. Universal human rights are a totally different thing. And my prediction is that a time will come when we put, or reevaluate, the traditional and religious value.
Now I think the government is much, much [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Now I think the government is much, much stronger than brand. Brands they come and go. And brands are here for some selfish reason and I think it is a mistake to compare government with brands. Unfortunately all the governments we have are not to the level of satisfaction and that's why this kind of questions come up. But we must think the governments we need and governments we have now and I think we should stop comparing government with brands.
We are not criticizing. There is no [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We are not criticizing. There is no criticism. What we are concerned about is the outcome of rapid industrialization of China. It is not a criticism. If you think it's a criticism, our concern is that the impact of rapid industrialization in China will have a significant impact to the rest of the world. Believe me, we didn't give plenty of time. This rapid industrialization will create so much turmoil in Asia, as well as throughout the world, and it is our concern that we can correct it; and it is not our criticism.
Absolutely not. Let them participate. The [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Absolutely not. Let them participate. The third world has been poor and the Western States are prosperous. These are two different things. Since this question is asked I liked to say this. All those people in the Western States can help the third world to be out of poverty; but the wealth, the richness of the Western States do not depend on the third world being poor.
We do not. That's a wrong question. We do [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We do not. That's a wrong question. We do not consider some lives - it is human egotism that put us above other things. We have to observe, we have to respect, very carefully whether it's animals, plants, whatever. They have to - they have a right to carry on their own lives. No question about that. Since we put ourselves above other things and do so many things which is damaging to the main system - the main system of nature and we will be punished by doing so after so many years. We human beings will be punished because of the very reason I just mentioned.
No, neither. It is not a matter of finance – [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: No, neither. It is not a matter of finance – please. Don't over evaluate what financing does. We have much more important things to think about in the [development] of developing countries.
I don't think they are at a disadvantage. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I don't think they are at a disadvantage. We should value what women have been doing. What women have been doing within the family is so important and that they're the core to build our society. I think we have misunderstood that men have more enjoyment of doing what they've been doing, work. What they are doing – I'm talking the men – a lot of unnecessary things, unimportant things, and that they're just playing games. But on the other hand what the women have been doing; raising kids, taking care of a household, are very vitality important to the human lives. And we should not kid ourselves by just evaluating the good times men have and the hard times women have. We should really think of the significance of what women are doing; more meaningful and much more important than the games men are playing.
Yeah, we should think about the different [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Yeah, we should think about the different types of addiction. Addiction associated with drugs could be cured, but other forms of addictions has more fundamental and more difficult to deal with. One more aspect I like to ask, there are so many addictions which are not noticeable. Who else would think the addiction we observe we realize. But behind the scenes there are so many different types of addictions which we do not notice. And even some people think that he or she has no addiction whatsoever, but those people could be more dangerous.
Well, it is not that difficult. The bottom [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, it is not that difficult. The bottom line is, be nice to others. When you face violence, anger or hatred, come up with sort of a master plan on how to deal with this kind of situation, but be nice to others one by one. Invite him or her to your home. Talk to each other. Eat together. Next day, invite the next person to your house, one by one. If you have to deal with twenty people, it will take twenty days but put your effort to do those things and I don't think we've been doing that.
Well, here again we talk about education. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, here again we talk about education. We should realize before education starts, that there are so many things which are more important than education systems provide. Human life depends so much on the first three to six years of their life. Discipline, each individual nurtured within the family is the key. As soon as we start talking about importance of education, automatically people think about education systems, school systems. And we do not put enough attention to the education before educational systems gives. From the healthy, respectable families, gang violence seldom begins.
Well, I think we must identify the major, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, I think we must identify the major, major issues we are facing. Climate change, no health insurance, international disputes, terrorism and we should spend this trillion dollars in order to take one step of improvement in those areas. As long as we spend such a huge amount in strengthening military power, I don't think we will have a chance to get out of this chaotic status of the world. A new Marshall plan is something worth investigating or considering, so there are some, a few, very worthwhile endeavors which is worth getting some attention and consideration.
Because we made a big mistake by putting [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Because we made a big mistake by putting them side-by-side. The solution is to move them. The world is big enough to accommodate one of them. A totally different place away from the middle east. Even Japan, it's a small country but up in the north they have four islands, which are now he serves the argument, disputes between Russia and Japan and those four islands, if you move, for instance, Israel to that four islands, they are so far from the middle east I think it will be worth our investment from all over the world to move Israel several thousand kilometers away from where they are now. Proximity of those two nations is bad news.
It [can] be done. War on what? It is not [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It [can] be done. War on what? It is not -- governments are not allowed to start or get into a war. As simple as that. Japan has been out of a war for the last 60 years. Yes, there is certainly time and occasion when we think that we would like to initiate something drastic, but they stop. They will not initiate or implement those actions. So that's the same thing, right? And it is as simple as that, war is no. People are not to do --allowed to implement such actions. As simple as that. It will be our golden rule number one not to do that.
My answer is no. To establish a global [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My answer is no. To establish a global government has been the issue for quite a long time. And at one time, we thought it was possible, but nowadays global government is out of our realistic thinking. Each nation, each region should have to maintain their own culture in order to create peaceful living, securities and even in order to maintain the life activities there. It is almost impossible to understand in depth that each of these 200 nations in the world has or even is because of various reasons that each nation is so different and we should not dream to have a global government and to see those 200 nations are behaving according to the whatever standard rules or regulations of the global government put in front of those people of 200 different nations. We should not kid ourself.
Well, it is simply because we are almost [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, it is simply because we are almost voiceless to the powerful use force and only when the weak use force does start doing something, we raise our voice. Whether it is for self-defense purpose or terrorism purpose, we should try to deal with at the same level. And by doing that, we will get one step closer to the solution. Self-defense is here mainly because of very selfish reasons. Terrorism is there and even the inner violence is there because we forgot to treat them properly.
It is not tolerated. It happens because of [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It is not tolerated. It happens because of mainly selfish reasons, I think. When you think about the civilians' death, no one, and in many cases leaders or decision makers are not in that group. They always stay away, stay out of that tragedy. Well, sometimes it happens to their relatives or family members and so on and so forth. But, unless those political leaders or leaders of the movements have to face their tragic situation personally, this trend will stay, unfortunately. But the bottom line is, it is not tolerated.
A lot. A lot. The security is number one [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: A lot. A lot. The security is number one priority for living. If you are not safe, you cannot carry on the decent living. As simple as that. We have to offer our liberties in order to secure a good level of security.
Because the western world is not properly [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Because the western world is not properly presented and western people are not properly understood. The main reason behind it is that we have failed, our western people have failed to present themselves through their actions, through their various efforts to be properly understood. And here again, there is a huge amount of egoistic activities, actions, which are always very disturbing to put all this questions in a justifiable perspective.
I hope we have enough decent people. Decent [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I hope we have enough decent people. Decent people are very difficult to find. And it's more difficult to find them helping each other.
Yes, you have a right to choose where you [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Yes, you have a right to choose where you live, but you have to earn it. You have to have the ability to do that. Don't take it for granted. Don't think it does comes from somewhere else. Your choice has to come within the range of your capability.
Well, it is pretty difficult to talk about [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, it is pretty difficult to talk about this hypothetical condition. My immediate response was it would be much better, because Africa and Africans provide us so much difficulties and injustice without bringing Africans, some Africans to the Americas as slaves. The society of Americas would have been so different from what we have now. And the impact of that would be beyond normal imagination. I like this question because by thinking, by putting enough thought on this issue, we could bring new thinking or a new horizon to our thinking and maybe I, myself, have more appreciation to what Africans have been doing to the entire western civilization. That appreciation is, I think, very significant.
I think so. Democracy is accumulation of [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I think so. Democracy is accumulation of egoistic opinions, egoistic thinking. And it is obvious that more than half a century ago Winston Churchill touches the subject and at that time his indication was we need true leaders. And I think it's about time to put together our brains and intelligence to come up with what true leaders are. And this will even apply to once we put enough effort to identify the true leaders, I think we can use that in a good way even in commercial businesses. I am from business and I spend a great amount of time in marketing, in management and all kinds of things and always people say we must listen to the opinions of the customers. If you listen to the opinions of customers, the end result is what we have today. Because the customers are very egoistic and an accumulation of egoistic ideas have created what we have now. It's about time to think that there is more important, meaningful thing than listening to the customers. We should be more sensitive to what we have created. And if we are not satisfied with what we have, then we should put down our foot to move to the next step.
This is one of the three questions I am not [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: This is one of the three questions I am not able to answer.
Well change can happen without taking [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well change can happen without taking innocent victims. America has been losing its standing and will keep losing. I think we now have enough wisdom that we make change without taking innocent victims and we should do that. Remember that America, the United States, was much more powerful 60 years ago, 50 years ago and about 40 years ago, the United States started losing their power. Yes, they took many innocent victims, but losing power many people welcome it. I mean to see America losing power, but I think we have enough wisdom that that trend will not take innocent victims. We can do it and we should pursue it.
My answer is nobody. Nobody is profiting. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My answer is nobody. Nobody is profiting. Even in short term or even in long term. In long term it's more obvious and the results does not create a profit to any parties. But even short term, I don't see any profits. Some satisfaction to some people, but I don't call it profit. Somewhere superficial, thin, narrow minded satisfaction, maybe some people feel that way, but it is not profit. And we must make it absolutely clear that nobody will profit out of terrorism.
Same as always. Act as you believe. But [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Same as always. Act as you believe. But there are certain conditions behind it. You have act according to your belief but the basic condition is that it should not be for a selfish reason. Unfortunately, human being is pretty egoistic creature. But thanks to the report or information we receive these days, we know how egoistic we are and we know how to put certain limits on that so that our courage will get or will make good results.
Well, because simply because Iranians are [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, because simply because Iranians are unpredictable. We do not understand Iranians entirely, Iranian mindset and Iranian's physically. I have a pretty long history dealing with Iranian business and always when you have some deal or some business together with Iranians, the golden rule is when you make certain investment of doing that, the golden rule is recover your investment and get out of it as soon as possible. Don't stay there for too long. Don't anticipate or expect Iranians to do things like whole other countries or whole other people outside of Iran do. The way of even doing business, business is just a small aspect of our relationship, but even doing business, we have to be extremely careful because they have a totally different mentality. Their system is different.
The purpose is to raise public awareness and [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The purpose is to raise public awareness and understanding. The level of awareness and understanding are not high enough to secure certain things like security and international law. The simple reason to have that, to improve our awareness. It is too bad and I don't think we will ever have the effective enforcement for international law. But we have to raise our level of awareness and understanding and international law will help us doing that.
Well, yes and no. I know the fact that [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, yes and no. I know the fact that there is a very strong tie between politics and violence but I don't know why we let it go for so long without taking a gigantic step to stop that. After all, I think politics, we need politics in order to get rid of this violence, for instance, that's one of the reasons why we need politics. But after so many years of civilization, we have this, we know that there is a strong tie between those two and we have done so little in order to have the right solution to get out of that strong connection. I think we have enough facts and evidence in front of us and we must put our intelligence together to cut this strong tie between these two.
Absolutely yes, we have a new version of [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Absolutely yes, we have a new version of colonialism. Unfortunately, we are still in that sort of [inaudible]. We like to spread governments, political leaders or national leaders want to enlarge their territories. Not only physical territories, other territories as well. And that is what I call colonialism. I think it is about time for everybody to understand that colonialism does not bring good results.
My answer is yes, it is relative to where [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My answer is yes, it is relative to where you are. There is no absolute freedom. I am from Japan and the freedom I enjoy in Japan is relative to Japanese culture, the civilization we have and I don't think that freedom is applicable if I go to for instance to Nigeria. The freedom there is totally different from what I have in my own country. So you have to know the individual characteristics of that place, country, community to enjoy or to create viable freedom. It is relative to where you are.
Well I don't see any line between personal [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well I don't see any line between personal freedom and social responsibility. Everybody has, as long as, he or she lives in this community, you have social responsibility. And to some people like myself, my personal freedom and my personal social responsibility [inaudible] when I have freedom where I can enjoy my personal freedom always honestly, always. I try to use that freedom to fulfill my social responsibility and it is you who decide that. I decide my social, my personal social responsibility. And unless I have my own personal freedom, it is not easy to do this. I enjoy my personal freedom in order to fulfill my social responsibility. Very simple.
Well the right thing to do is to deal with [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well the right thing to do is to deal with this situation one by one. There is no quick way of dealing with this kind of situation. You need time, you need effort to ask one by one to have an individual dialogue. We have all kinds of different ways of doing this. Spend some time together. And if you are not successful in convincing the other party, do it again. Over and over again, one by one. And if you have to deal with 10,000 people, divide those 10,000 people into smaller numbers and you will come up with the same number from your group and teach them. From your group, confront or start dialogue with those from other parties. Instead of confrontation, I have found always there is a solution. Sometimes they have a better or justified reason. In that case, what I told my people is if you cannot win this confrontation, join them and start making a community within that party. And the camaraderie spreads normally will lead to the solution.
Classic musicians and classic painters are [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Classic musicians and classic painters are my heroes. Classic music artists and painting artists, those are my heroes.
Well, dumping all patents law does not [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, dumping all patents law does not promote, encourage creativity nor innovation. Human nature or human behavior, it is not that simple. We are very egoistic and if you have completely free world, the patent or intellectual property field, eventually it will discourage all of our creativities. Because in order to have a viable good patent or intellectual property, it requires a lot of work, hard work. And if you know that, as soon as it gets some public attention, the next day society will allow other people to come up with the same type of technology, isn't that discouraging? So you have to be protected. That is why we have these patent laws, intellectual property laws.
Absolutely yes. And we have made so much [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Absolutely yes. And we have made so much mistakes in assuming that endless growth was possible. It is not. So, we must put a lid on the Keynesian Economics, for instance. Because in Keynesian Economics encourages to do more and more. It is not only the ecological limit. The actual limit that we have to our economic growth is more than ecological limits.
I don't like to use "intimidated" but [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I don't like to use "intimidated" but certainly we are controlled. And whether we are aware of that or conscious about that, but we are controlled by the internet. Look at the amount of time we spend on that. When you spend so much time sitting in front of your computer, that's what I call control, because there are more important things to do. Think about the children, young age. It's a great mistake that facing the internet, facing the computer screen and how much of that information becomes your knowledge and becomes your wisdom, is a very big question mark. I call it control because it takes too much time away from the time we should spend thinking, deep thinking.
My answer is yes. To some degree, it is [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My answer is yes. To some degree, it is yes. Because we are not in the driver's seat of our life and we depend on things, which is out of our control and by the time we realize this and in a number of cases it is rather too late. Domesticated animals and domesticated people, we have a lot of them and we should start doing something to correct that. The bottom line is we are not in a position to make full control of it.
Well, through our effort to let people know, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, through our effort to let people know, to improve awareness -- don't stay different, here awareness is the key. We must shift our gear so that our communities, for each member, making these communities know what to do and what not to do.
We have very limited low-level awareness, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We have very limited low-level awareness, and we don't know. We don't have enough knowledge but why is it? But now, since this question was raised and this is kind of a wake-up call to all of us. Once you get to know this, you and I have to work hard to solve it. Don't just listen or don't just read. Do something.
Well it depends what kind of new technology [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well it depends what kind of new technology you are talking about. There are numerous new technologies which are not only potentially but which are harmful in the short term but in the long term as well. But if you are lucky and if you have some talented people to switch that potentially harmful new technology into non-harmful, useful technology, but it is under the big question mark whether this could happen. Because there again, you need certain ingenuity, we need some talent to do that. And whether we will find those people to do that, to realize that, is a big question mark and I don't know whether we can count on that. It is under a big question mark. Very difficult to predict. Thank you.
Well since you asked the steps, I will give [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well since you asked the steps, I will give three steps. First step is surprise, second step is wake-up call, and third step is learn. Those are the steps. And I think especially for those who stay indifferent to these kind of issues, surprise, wake-up call and learn.
Well it is a matter of people's choice. You [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well it is a matter of people's choice. You prefer and you prefer and you like, those are unimportant information. That's why they keep, television keeps supplying those unimportant information. If you think they are unimportant, we must act accordingly, so the TV station will stop sending out those unimportant stuff. It is our choice. Don't blame somebody else. It is us who spreads such unimportant information.
Well this is because simply the reason [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well this is because simply the reason behind this is because the economic reason. A lot of people want to make good business out of this and they try to keep us not informed. They keep the general public ignorant on this and that and in a very short period of time they can make a very profitable business. So, the answer is why, because of our ignorance and because of the fact that we are not informed.
Some science are very objective and some are [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Some science are very objective and some are not. It depends. I used to think that science, some time ago, were more objective than the science we have now, but the more you get to know about the science, I have to change that understanding, or my view. Even in 20 years ago, 150 years ago, the objectivity of science was questionable. Same as what we face today. So my answer to this, is it's not that objective your science is. How objective could you be if you do not know the entire picture?
What you and I can do is to realize that [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: What you and I can do is to realize that this planet or where we live has a limit. We cannot keep doing what we've been doing. We need academic principles instead of talking about how to maximize our desire; we must talk about how to control our cheap desire. The very key to this is that we should know what is enough. We must know what is sufficient. And that is a key. Don't ever think that to maximize your desire will bring more happiness. It will not. We must know what is sufficient.
The world will not compensate. Instead of [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The world will not compensate. Instead of compensating those people and the United States particularly, they should know what they've been doing and put a step on the brake their daily behavior. Otherwise all the historians in the future will call Americans our 20th Century and early part of 21st Century mindless spenders. Oh, they're just a bunch of mindless spenders, I think. And let them know that what they've been doing deserves this kind of new name. Mindless spenders will be punished eventually.
Architecture has become more and more [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Architecture has become more and more significant to social, economic and political and environmental concern. Since we have reached the stage where we have to switch or we have to shift our gear in order to utilize more natural and renewable energies, in other words, we must depend much more heavily on solar energy. Then architecture for even the angle of the buildings becomes so important, we have to be more concerned about where the south is, if every single house is facing straight to south, our actual utilization of solar energy will be at least 20% more efficient than the other way around. And architects know that. It is their job to inform us what we should do in order to take advantage of it or in order to make full usage of the natural energy.
Green and safe. Green and safe. If our [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Green and safe. Green and safe. If our future is green and our future is safe, I am happy.
It is an opportunity but at the same time a [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It is an opportunity but at the same time a problem. It is a problem because we are not ready for this ubiquitousness of mass media. We are not ready. We are not prepared. We don't know how to handle this. So still, until September 9, 2006, we are still sort of taken by the speed, by the availability it provides and I don't think we know how to handle it. Mass media is taken advantage of it as they have a very unfortunate tendency to feed a number of meaningless, non-important substance, contents to the world wide range of public. We are in danger. Not to put enough time and effort to think. Not enough time and effort to request more important information. It is a big problem to all of us.
I hope it is no. Oh my goodness, this is bad [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I hope it is no. Oh my goodness, this is bad news. Please stop thinking that way. And you and I hope that it will not be possible to connect our brain to machines. Who wants to be another machine? Who wants to convert your brain into a machine? I don't and I hope you don't either.
I think this question relates to how we can [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I think this question relates to how we can focus our education. Because even the terminology education means some much different things about each and every individual and when you talk about a decent education, decent education to me means meaningful education. And I like to educate -- to encourage, these steps like first step is we should know how to be natural. Be natural, the first step. And how nature operates The second step is to live with nature. How to live with nature and those are the two steps and if we focus on this [audio ends]
You do not try hard enough. You must try [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: You do not try hard enough. You must try hard. I do not feel alone.
By courage, generosity and awareness of [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: By courage, generosity and awareness of those undeveloped countries can make this happen. But don't anticipate too much because social and economic development is just one aspect of the development and it is our mistake to put too much emphasis, to emphasize too much on this social and economic side. There are more important aspects about development: culture, spiritual side, sense of value, deep thinking. Those are very important when we talk about the development. The knowledge age has many different dimensions. And knowledge could make wisdom through awareness and our awareness has not been developed enough. So knowledge has a tendency to fail knowledge and failed to become wisdom. And unless you have wisdom, you cannot realize good results. We have to think about that.
My tree is the entire nature. When you get [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My tree is the entire nature. When you get to know how nature works, when you get to know the mechanism of nature, how it is designed, you learn so much. And you learn so much what's wrong with human civilization.
It is by losing individual personality, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It is by losing individual personality, individual characteristics. Consumer culture I think came into reality not that long ago, definitely after, I think, the industrial revolution. So the history of consumer culture is shorter than 200 some years. And we should know since we are not content with the current situation of the consumer culture, we should act accordingly. Don't blame anybody else, don't blame somebody else. It is us who's promoting it. And it has a vital impact and influence on our personalities, on our way we live. And it is time for us to wake up and to change the course of our behavior and actions.
Of course, yes. Carefulness is the key. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Of course, yes. Carefulness is the key. You must see carefully, you must feel carefully. I would like to even go a step further. Not only we are part of a planet, but at the same time we should know that planet, that nature is our main system. Of course we are part of it and all what we do, socially or economically to create society and economy that's the all part of this system, which we should call sub-systems, and part of this main system, all of us are. What we should know is we can or we are destroying it. We can break it down but we are not capable to build it. That is what we should know. In the final analysis what I am saying is that yes, we should know we are part of this nature, the main system and at the same time we should know what we can do and what we cannot do, very carefully.
Well, that is a society we have chosen to [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, that is a society we have chosen to build. Whether you call it commercialism or marketing technology, or whatever, it is not too long ago that reluctantly stopped saying that consumption is a virtue. Fortunately, these days, not too many people see that, but it was until quite recently that consumption was a good thing. And when you talk about consumption, it's the commercial stuff, not air, or not water. These days now in some area, you have to pay for a glass of water or a bottle of water. But until very recently, we didn't have to. In the society where consumption is a virtue, availability of Coca Cola was justified or was very important; more important than having running water and fresh water available to everybody. So, our belief in commercialism has made it happen.
To me, whenever I find myself in Africa, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: To me, whenever I find myself in Africa, it's like the opportunity I have in Africa almost gives me the idea that it's like all of us have a huge genuine nature in front of me. So to answer this question, what I learn from Africa is the same as what I learned from nature.
This balance, I don't buy that concept. We [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: This balance, I don't buy that concept. We don't need balance. Local cultures, I put more importance on that because we have been neglecting local cultures and look what we face now. As a result of neglecting, the meaning of local culture and try to create so much a global community, the result was -- it's pretty tragic. Local cultures, local identities, local characteristics are very important in order to keep, maintain individualities of people living there. Without local identities, local value systems, we go nowhere. That's a basis of human beings to remain human.
Our common enemy is indifference in people. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Our common enemy is indifference in people. People indifferent, people not interested in. We have to break down this big obstacle. I think, no matter how hard we try to make people listen to us, it does not work. Only through actions people start listening. So actions are what needed to make people listen to our argument, to our belief.
The most important unreported story is we [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The most important unreported story is we cannot keep doing what we have been doing. Repeat: We cannot keep doing what we've been doing. This is not reported and people are not aware of this.
Well the world is built that way. We are [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well the world is built that way. We are very small but we can do so much.
I like the entire world to know that nature [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I like the entire world to know that nature does not need us. Nature has a perfect design to be sustainable. It is people who destroy the sustainability. I would like everybody to know that people are their natural enemy. Nature is happy if it doesn't have us. And we should know that. It is people who creates all kinds of problems in nature.
My answer to this is innovation is made by [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: My answer to this is innovation is made by smart people and it is ordinary people who use it. All right? So it will become very time consuming and it becomes very stressful, because ordinary people could not digest it. And just sit there and use it and be used until it becomes so stressful that they can't take it anymore. So it is too bad that smart people or that we don't have the smart people for interpretation of new inventions.
Well it is very unfortunate that we have no [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well it is very unfortunate that we have no other choice. Either driven by military or market force. I myself resent this market force, because market force is accumulation of very selfish forces. People are born very selfish and market force is built on that. So yes, I hope we can find a way to make our technology more objective and driven not only by market forces but some other forces. In order to do that, I think we must need wisdom and intelligence to be able to see the future. Our current ability is very limited when it comes to think about the future.
It is us. I like to say responsibility is [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It is us. I like to say responsibility is in the hand of political leaders but those political leaders are chosen or selected by us. So it is our responsibility to manage the resources. As simple as that. No other reason to believe somebody else. Political leaders, we have to be extremely careful about whom to select. In our case in Japan, our voting record is pretty discouraging. The place I live only one out of four, only 25% of the voters get to vote. And the other 75% stay indifferent. That is why we have this devastating situation.
Well, it is a big question mark. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, it is a big question mark. Indigenousness is important. A good example, when Indonesia had that big tsunami, there were so many people, 300,000 got into a tragedy, but there are that group of islands not far from where the tsunami got started and all the indigenous people survived. The place, the island was severely hit by the tsunami, but they knew well in advance that the tsunami is coming and indigenousness, do you know why, because they are out of our present civilization. They have no association with our civilization. I would go even a step further. When we had that tragedy, cats and dogs, buffalos, monkeys, elephants all of them survived. They knew what was coming and they escaped. Indigenous people have that kind of sense of survival, but unfortunately because of the globalization of this and that, this thing is disappearing.
I think the center of the issue is the fact [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: I think the center of the issue is the fact that a lot of people try not to reveal the actual facts. So sometimes it is a defect and imperfections, but it takes a certain time until we realize that the time has come to correct that. It is really the human nature and greedy because of that whether we get to know about defects, about whether it is a defect or imperfections. We don't know whether we know in a timely manner. Before we talk about this genetic engineering, there are so many things we should be aware of and we should be doing to deal with this kind of defects and imperfections.
We don't determine this. We should not [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We don't determine this. We should not determine it. And I hope time will tell when we realize the cause, the cause of this and outcome of this.
The value of nature, how small people are [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The value of nature, how small people are and the power you have. Those are three things I think our child should know. Value of the nature, how small people are and the power you have. Those are the three things.
The beauty of the nature. That is the most [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: The beauty of the nature. That is the most important subject. The reason behind it because we have forgotten that. We have forgotten the fact that nature is a main system and what we do is just making the sub-systems. The main system is a nature and we can destroy the main system. We can break down the main system, but we must know that we cannot, we are not able, we don't have the capability of building nature. We don't have the capability of building nature, we don't have the capability to build the main system. All those sub-systems, economy, society are just a part of the main system and we should know that what we do is all in that sub-system. And we should become modest and humble when we deal with the main system, which is nature.
Design of nature moves me. Design of nature.
Takashi Kiuchi: Design of nature moves me. Design of nature.
Well let me tell you this. This is a new [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well let me tell you this. This is a new terminology which I created in the English language but this in Japan, we started saying this which is nostalgic future. Let me repeat. Nostalgic future. When we talk about nostalgia or nostalgic, normally it is in the past. But this new myth is that we should, we must remember what we used to have and call it back and let's have a vision of our future supported by that. 300 years ago, 200 years ago, or even less than that we had a lot of good things and we've lost that. Let's call them back and I know that to do that, the myth we need to have is to think about nostalgic future. Re-create our future with some good nostalgic stuff.
Well recently in my little home right in [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well recently in my little home right in downtown Tokyo or in the center of Tokyo, I installed a system for solar energy. And I hope, and I am a strong believer, that the energy they produce for a household and for the Tokyo [ET] Companies will be greater than actual energy they use to produce that solar panels. But it is true that since you raise this question, it has not become common knowledge of this balance and this is a good time for me to pursue this and I would like to let the world know this renewable energy system will create more energy than it consumes to produce it.
Well it's too bad. It's because we are so [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well it's too bad. It's because we are so innocent. Nationality aspect has been emphasized and explained much more than humanity aspect. Yes, we are in a very selective circle of people, humanity has been creating good topic and many good discussions thus far but in the general public, humanity factor is neglected. In Japan, we talk about whether we should use more frequently our national flag, national anthem, this and that. How do you think we talk about humanity in many instances maybe we take humanity side for granted. As a result, our belief in humanity does not carry weight.
Well, too bad. It is your choice. Okay? I [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, too bad. It is your choice. Okay? I know what you are talking about, what you mean, but remember that is your choice, right? So be more sensitive to what you eat or even what you buy. In current information age, knowledge age, it is not that difficult to know what is good and what is bad, quality wise. So be more shrewd and smart in selecting what you eat.
God is a religion. You don't talk about [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: God is a religion. You don't talk about God's religion. God is the religion, first off. As simple as that.
By knowing the value of individual [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: By knowing the value of individual characteristics of cities. Sameness is not good news. Each person is different, each city is different, each community is different. That difference creates a lot of good, positive things. When you are different, you put some effort to maintain that difference that is inherent. So we should encourage cities to protect their different identities.
Well, both are not important at all. Race, [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, both are not important at all. Race, where they come from, not important. Each individual should be valued by where we are or where they are and not by any other reason or any other background. As simple as that, race or where are insignificant. They should make the judgment according to the way he or she lives, or she or he behaves, or according to the value system each individual has, that's how you evaluate people, not by race, not by where they come from.
We should read. We should know how to read [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: We should read. We should know how to read nature. As simple as that. We forgot how to read nature.
It cannot. Until we realize how to use it. [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: It cannot. Until we realize how to use it. Now, what's happening at present days, we are not using it, we are used by internet. Look at the huge amount of time people spend on the internet. Whether you like it or not, that is what we do. Thinking about the serve to enhance our communities, we must know exactly what we like to have and what we like to get from this new informational tool. And I don’t think when it comes to substance or contents, we are looking for, and I don't think we have a clear picture of what we really like to get as a result. And then it becomes a very time consuming tool and it is very counter-productive and we should know how much we lose because of that time consuming factor.
Well the future of the city, since the [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well the future of the city, since the gentleman who asked this question lives in Brisbane, Australia, I hope that Brisbane cares about the future of the city. Size wise, it is not gigantic and the actual living conditions to me looks pretty decent and they are not expansion oriented, high rises are limited, so that's I hope that would tell, maybe that's a sort of wishful thinking. Some cities like Tokyo, or Chicago, maybe Berlin too, are very growth oriented, getting bigger and bigger, but that does not create decent living and now people start realizing that, but in order to do that, in order to keep the future of the city promising, the key is economic factors. The key is not to put priorities to the economic factors. Other factors are much more important. How green it is, how peaceful it is, whether security is secured, whether it is a safe place to live. Keep those people living in that city, know each other, and when you leave your house, your home, it becomes almost unnecessary to lock your doors. So I think the future of a city depends on those factors. Let's list them up and if you come up with two dozen, three dozen factors to make the city respectable, let's work hard to attain that.
Well, let them work hard to earn it. But at [...]
Takashi Kiuchi: Well, let them work hard to earn it. But at the same time, let them know what they expect later. They should know what's coming. If everybody in China wants to have a car, the end result, not even end result, end result is much more serious, the interim result outcome is devastating. They should know.
