Foreign Policy 2021 02 Spring

Sponsored report The Fugaku supercomputer has been used to simulate how factors like masks, humidity and distance influence viral spread. RIKEN World’s Fastest Supercomputer Cracking the COVID Code Conducting around 442 quadrillion calculations per second, Fugaku was the world’s first supercomputer to be top-ranked in speed, data processing, deep learning with AI and practical simulation calculations. In the global competition to develop The research has helped turn the The computer’s simulations have the world’s fastest supercomputer, Ja- invisible visible. By communicat- underscored the importance of wear- pan’s Fugaku displaced the IBM Summit ing results, people around the world ing well-fitted masks, even though for top spot last June. Yet the driving fac- have been able to see how factors like they do not eliminate exposure risks tor behind its development was never to masks, visors, ventilation, airf low, completely. They also found that face win. Instead, it was created with an ap- humidity and distance influence the shields are much less effective, but plication-first philosophy aimed at tack- likelihood of contagion. can be helpful in situations such as ling the world’s biggest challenges. eating or drinking. Researchers found that risk is deter- As COVID-19 raged, the supercomput- mined by four main factors – distance, For other harm reduction strategies, er, developed jointly by RIKEN and Fu- Fugaku’s results say that when dining jitsu, was deployed earlier than planned FUGAKU WAS DEVELOPED OVER A with a group, there should be empty so it could be added to the global arsenal DECADE AT A COST OF $1.2 BILLION seats in front of and beside each person against the pandemic. Researchers knew at the table. Likewise, for partitions to it would be an ideal tool to run real-world duration of contact, vocalization (like be effective, they should be above head simulations about viral transmission. singing, talking, silent, or exercising) height. Now, the supercomputer is fo- and ventilation. “It is advisable to de- cused on analyzing different ventila- “We have put out a press release ev- velop a habit of thinking about the tion strategies in music venues. ery month or two. It would take a year risk of infection in various situations Moving forward, Fugaku will also be or more to do the same with the world’s by always assessing the relative con- leveraged to work on critical areas like fastest  supercomputer  of the previous tribution of these four factors,” said medicine, pharmacology, disaster pre- generation,” said Makoto Tsubokura, Tsubokura. diction and prevention, environmental team leader at the RIKEN Center for sustainability and energy. Computational Science. JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 9

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Inside the world’s first digital art museum, located in Tokyo’s Odaiba district. ALAMY 10 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE

Sponsored report Government as a Service The Japanese government is embarking on a digital transformation aimed at streamlining administrative procedures and providing round-the-clock services to citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid transformation at an incredible speed. It’s encourage digital transformation in the bare the shortcomings of govern- provided a strong lesson to the entire na- private sector. ments around the world.In Japan’s case, tion,” says Takuya Hirai, Japan’s first Dig- management of the health crisis was ital Transformation Minister. “The establishment of the Digital hampered by an outdated and cumber- Transformation Agency is an agile, some administrative system. While the Hirai’s agency will act as a command expedited process, similar to start- country may be famed for its futuristic center, reporting directly to Prime Min- ing a company from scratch. Eventu- technology, some aspects of govern- ally, once the Digital Transformation ment appeared to still be operating in This is an agile, expedited process, Agency is in operation, we will have the last millennium. similar to starting a company from ‘Government as a Service,’” explains scratch Hirai. “This means government ser- As social media was being used to con- vices will be accessible and available duct widespread surveys and provide Takuya Hirai, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The support for people with the disease, many Minister for Digital Transformation convenience of digitalization in vari- healthcare providers were faxing infor- ous fields such as medical care, educa- mation about infections to public health- ister Suga. Within five years, it hopes tion, and disaster prevention is that it care centers, where data was aggregated to integrate, standardize and digi- will be available whenever and wher- manually. When the government tried to talize government processes, ahead of ever you want.” send out nearly $1,000 to each resident, a nationwide transition to the cloud. the process was significantly delayed by Simultaneously, the agency will cre- The agency will also be different paper-based administrative procedures. ate architecture for new public sector from other government departments People were told to submit applications systems while promoting initiatives to in its rejection of traditional, top-down online, but an unprepared system forced bureaucratic thinking. Instead, it will some local governments to accept mail- put user experience at the center of its in requests only. strategy as it strives to make adminis- trative services simple and intuitive Looking to distance himself from his predecessor and address this glar- ing problem, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga made the digitalization of Japan one of his top priorities. Within hours of taking office last September, he cre- ated the post of digital transformation minister and tasked the latter with cre- ating an agency within a year to lead the national effort. The project is moving forward at re- cord speed and the Digital Transfor- mation Agency is expected to be oper- ational by September 1 of this year. It will be staffed by around 500 experts, including at least 100 IT engineers hired from the private sector through a fast-track process more readily asso- ciated with a business start-up than a public organization. “I believe that the pandemic is why Ja- pan has been moving forward with digital JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 11

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Sponsored report From Japan’s National Diet, the Suga administration is spearheading the process of digital transformation. SHUTTERSTOCK for everyone, including the elderly By this spring, the ID cards are ex- line from anywhere using a computer and people with disabilities. pected to also begin operating as or mobile phone,” said Hirai. health insurance cards. By early 2023, One of the agency’s key goals is the the government aims to hold their Aspects of the new system are al- promotion of Japan’s personal identifi- functions in cellphones. The year after ready being piloted. Moving in Japan cation cards, called My Number Cards, that, they are expected to act as valid can be a notoriously long and compli- which will serve as passports to the driver’s licenses, all while the govern- cated process. The change of address digital society. These cards are already ment continues to improve their au- has to be reported to various govern- equipped with IC chips that act as elec- thentication functions. ment agencies and private business- tronic certificates, verifying identity es. The processes vary from place to for some online government services. “At that point, it will become possi- place and person to person, leading to They are also hooked up to an online ble to digitally identify the person and frequent mistakes and omissions. To portal where residents can check what check the necessary information on reduce the burden, the government information governments have about the spot, providing finely tuned ser- is going to launch an online one-stop them, as well as perform a few admin- vices. This should lead to greater con- moving service allowing residents to istrative tasks. But the government’s venience in people’s daily lives, with report their new contact information strategy is to make the cards much citizens able to file tax returns or com- to local governments and private en- more versatile. plete childcare-related procedures on- terprises all in one place. 12 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE

“We need to think about how dig- IN CONVERSATION WITH ital infrastructure, despite being in- TAKUYA HIRAI, visible, brings about huge value for JAPANESE MINISTER FOR society, just like physical infrastruc- DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ture does. This is the key to revital- izing Japan’s economy on a global “We need to use scale,” says Mickey Mikitani, Chair- this momentum. man and CEO of Rakuten, a leading We cannot take Japanese digital company. “Digital a step back” transformation is endless. There is no finish line.” Considered one of Japan’s most further leveraged through the use of tech-savvy lawmakers, Minister Hirai is digital technologies. We also want to es- The government understands that leveraging the knowledge garnered in tablish a more enriched lifestyle where for digital transformation to be suc- his post as minister of information and people can lead quality lives with a cessful, it will have to protect users’ communications technology to create variety of choices, regardless of location privacy and security. Authorities are Japan’s Digital Transformation Agency or age. Efficiency would increase free working on a system in which an in- from scratch within a year. time, which could be used for further in- dependent regulatory authority will vestment and socioeconomic activities, monitor and supervise how personal What did the pandemic teach you about contributing to economic growth, as well information is being handled by both the importance of digital transformation? as for a variety of community activities the public and private sectors. And I believe that dealing with the COVID-19 and leisure. new legislation is expected to be pre- pandemic has served as an opportunity to underscore Japan’s lag in digitaliza- What role does the Digital Transfor- We need to think about how tion. In my opinion, the main cause for mation Agency have in bringing this to digital infrastructure, despite this is that we have been half-hearted in fruition? being invisible, brings about our efforts, and we were not thorough- The Digital Transformation Agency will huge value for society, just like ly keeping the users’ perspective in oversee and supervise the central and physical infrastructure does. This mind. On the other hand, I believe that local governments’ information systems. is the key to revitalizing Japan’s working from home, online medical care, Besides that, we will also put in place economy on a global scale and online education have somewhat essential systems. In this way, we will taken root in society by now as an be able to offer the services that people Mickey Mikitani, effect of COVID-19. We need to use this rightfully hope to receive,designed Chairman and CEO of Rakuten momentum. We cannot take a step back. thoroughly from the ordinary citizen’s It should become the engine of the perspective. We believe that implement- sented to the government this year, digitalization of society and it presents ing digital administrative procedures in a renewing basic regulations around opportunities for digital transformation. way that applies to all citizens will have personal data with the aim to strike a significant ripple effect beyond the “an appropriate balance between the How would you describe Japan’s vision public sector. The government must set protection and utilization of data,” in for a digital society? the example in terms of promoting soci- the words of Minister Hirai. The purpose of digital transformation ety’s digitalization as a whole. Its role is is to promote a human-friendly digital to create a society where people can get Beyond its borders, Japan has transformation to create a society where the services they expect and experience spearheaded the Data Free Flow with no one will be left behind, where citi- the convenience of digitalization. To real- Trust initiative. First discussed un- zens can choose the services that meet ize these goals, I strongly feel that I must der Japan’s G20 leadership in 2019, their needs and find fulfillment through take the lead in vigorously promoting the initiative seeks to develop in- the use of digital technologies. digital transformation and the Digital ternational rules for the digital age Digitalization is just a method, not a Transformation Agency. As the command that protect sensitive information purpose. The government will create a post for the formation of a digital society, while allowing productive data to society where, even when everything the agency must be given a robust over- flow across borders. This, and other becomes digital, people will still help all managing function, including the right ideas related to digitalization, will each other and that traditional spirit is to issue orders. be highlighted when Tokyo hosts the World Economic Forum’s first Glob- al Technology Government Summit in early April. JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 13

SOCIETY 5.0 Society 5.0: Japan’s Roadmap for the Future When it comes to technology, Japan’s government is no passive bystander. Its vision for Society 5.0 encourages innovation for a more sustainable, inclusive and human-centered future. A young girl making friends with a robot in the Kuromon Market in Osaka. UNSPLASH Japan’s government believes coming from connected devices draws on these technological Transforming that technological innova- and derive insights in real-time. breakthroughs to achieve a Society: tion has been the driving force Cyberspace and physical space more human society. Instead of societal change. First the ag- will further converge, creating a of looking at improving big, Healthcare ricultural revolution, then the super-smart society. complex social issues as a fiscal industrial one. Now, the rise of trade-off, it aims to leverage Personalized care, early the internet has led us to the in- With this revolution still in technology in a way that boosts detection, empowering formation age. its infancy, societies still have a economic development while individuals with health choice for where it can go. One simultaneously tackling soci- information But with the unprecedented is for policy-makers to watch etal problems and improving speed of technological advanc- indifferently as technological individual well-being. Humans Mobility es, Japan’s government believes innovations disrupt society for are not to be the components of civilization is again at the dawn private profit. Another is for the system, they will instead be Autonomous driving, of a new era. Soon, almost ev- governments to harness the at its center. shared services, erything will be able to be dig- technology to reinforce power live data on driving itally connected. At the same and control populations on a “In the past, we as a society conditions, reduced time, through tools like AI, we scale never before seen. strove for the greatest happi- emissions will have the power to analyze ness for the greatest number. the massive amount of data Japan presents an alterna- But already, by using AI and Manufacturing tive. Its Society 5.0 concept Use of AI and robots for efficiency, cooperative shipping, linking up supply chains 14 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE

Sponsored report Evolution of Society Society Q&A JUN MURAI, Society 5.0 is both closely held belief 5.0 PROFESSOR, KEIO UNIVERSITY Japan’s growth that by setting Known as the Father of the Internet in Japan, Professor Jun Murai was strategy and path clear goals and a pioneer in bringing the internet to the Asia-Pacific region. He remains a toward achieving ethical boundaries, key figure for his work on the future of connectivity. the UN Sustainable technology can What is the main challenge for the Development Goals. pave the way to Society SUPER SMART internet today? A nod to techno- a better, more 4.0 SOCIETY Abuse versus proper and ethical use. utopianism, it is the inclusive society. To solve abuses, we need to achieve technical sophistication in terms of 4st INDUSTRIAL security and trust frameworks. To REVOLUTION promote ethical use, the technology Society 5.0 achieves should work toward solving the main advanced convergen- challenges of human society such as health and natural disasters. It should ce between cyberspa- be a force for good in the world. I think that proper and ethical use of Society Society INFORMATION ce and physical space, digital data for our society should be 2.0 3.0 SOCIETY AI is used to analyze the goal of Society 5.0. The internet big data and robots certainly is the basis of it, so we INDUSTRIAL 3st INDUSTRIAL should keep enhancing it – making it SOCIETY REVOLUTION support the work a better platform for society. humans had previous- 2st INDUSTRIAL The internet ly done. Centered on “I believe this is a historic REVOLUTION unlocked the achieving economic moment to re-challenge the ability to access development and sol- status quo for better internet Human labor vast amounts of ving social problems governance together” information from almost anywhere. at once. What are some interesting technolo- gies coming out of Japan now? increasingly merged To name a few, stratosphere commu- with machines. nications for the internet such as Loon and Hapsmobile, which are some- Society AGRARIAN where between wifi/mobile technol- 1.0 SOCIETY ogy and satellite technology. I think they are very promising for post-di- 1st INDUSTRIAL saster internet infrastructure recovery. REVOLUTION Plastic optical fiber for high-speed, Light Industry short-distance connection is also becoming practical with its energy HUNTING 13000 BC End of 18th Century End of 20th Century 21th Century effectiveness. Quantum internet tech- SOCIETY nology for post-public key encryption internet security is another interesting The Emergence of and competitive field. Human Beings JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 15 SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN data, it is now possible to significantly roaki Miyata, Professor of Health Poli- reduce the cost of covering individual cy and Management at Keio University. needs while ensuring that no one is left Enthusiasm for this vision has rip- In the past, we strove for the pled across Japan’s sectors. Keidanren, greatest happiness for the greatest Japan’s main business association, has number. We can now aim for a adopted working toward Society 5.0 society with the greatest happiness as a main focus. Meanwhile, the gov- for the greatest diversity of people ernment has prioritized funding for science and technology. This January, Hiroaki Miyata, Professor of Health Policy the government announced it will be and Management, Keio University setting up a fund worth as much as $100 billion for innovative research in behind. We can now aim for a society universities. with the greatest happiness for the greatest diversity of people,” said Hi- “We strongly promote Society 5.0 by working to help solve social issues in Japan and internationally,” said Takayuki Morita, President and CEO of Japanese technology company NEC.

5G/6G Sponsored report Why Japan’s Open Technology Stands to Revolutionize 5G Increasing concerns over 5G supply chain risk have given new impetus to Japan’s open approach to next-generation mobile networks. Research suggests that the 5G consumer market will be worth an estimated $31 trillion by 2030. SHUTTERSTOCK The US-led clampdown on Hua- base-station market share, according ing key 5G technologies around open wei’s 5G technology gave fresh to research group TrendForce. specifications that allow networks to momentum to Japan’s next-genera- work with a multitude of components tion telecoms equipment. That’s not Traditionally, network suppliers from a range of companies. This could only thanks to Japan’s commitment to have provided mobile carriers with help destroy entry barriers for new human rights but also because of the all-in-one bundles. As networks grew companies in the 5G space, not only in country’s open approach to 5G, which increasingly complex, just a few large Japan but worldwide. promises to shake up the future of mo- companies became dominant, building bile networks. entire networks or large components “Our new generation of mobile phone with proprietary technology. tech infrastructure is unusual in that For now, the 5G space is something of it draws on technology vendors from an oligopoly. In 2020, just three com- But Japan’s government and technol- Japan, the US, Finland, Taiwan, Korea panies – Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia – ogy companies are hoping to help turn and elsewhere, but not from vendors controlled 77% of the entire global 5G the tide. Companies like Rakuten, NTT that have been spotlighted due to secu- DOCOMO, Fujitsu and NEC are build- 16 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE

rity concerns. Not surprisingly, US and IN CONVERSATION WITH European authorities have been watch- RYOTA TAKEDA, ing our progress,” said Mickey Miki- JAPANESE MINISTER tani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten, FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS which launched the world’s first large- AND COMMUNICATIONS scale open-architecture network last year. “The new network’s advantages “The indispensability are clear: 30-40% percent savings com- of ICT as basic social pared to traditional networks for pres- infrastructure has ent 4G technology and up to 50% sav- been reaffirmed” ings for next-generation 5G networks.” Ryota Takeda has been Japan’s Minis- and the norms regarding ICT usage. Japan’s emphasis on open networks ter for Internal Affairs and Communica- Since it is difficult to solve these issues aims to diminish real threats that could tions since Sept. 2020. One of his main through the respective efforts of individ- come with reliance on single suppliers. tasks is accelerating the deployment ual countries, international cooperation A European Commission report found of quality Japanese information and is crucial. Since Japan’s secure and qual- that this approach increases the expo- communications technology (ICT) like ity ICT is gaining increased international sure not only to cyberattacks but also 5G on the global market. He also hopes attention, we must live up to these ex- to technical weaknesses and vulnera- to stimulate more multilateral cooper- pectations and contribute to the security bilities. Increased competition could ation around international norms and of global ICT networks. also help get rid of supplier lock-in and standards that promote ethical use of lead to significant price drops for mo- mobile technology. Why has Japan emphasized open 5G bile carriers and consumers. architecture? How has the pandemic impacted your We are well aware of security concerns THE PUSH FOR OPEN TECHNOLOGY approach to ICT in Japan? such as the supply chain risk caused COULD HELP DESTROY ENTRY The COVID-19 pandemic has largely ex- by the issue of “vendor lock-in,” where BARRIERS FOR NEW COMPANIES IN panded the demand for remote activities network operators have little flexibility THE 5G SPACE, NOT ONLY IN JAPAN such as working from home and distance to adopt vendors other than those that BUT WORLDWIDE learning. As a result, the indispensabil- were initially adopted. To cope with ity of ICT that supports these activities this problem, we are internationally The UK, after virtually barring as basic social infrastructure has been promoting an open and interoperable Huawei technology in its 5G network reaffirmed. Besides, the use of big 5G network architecture. Domestically, due to unresolved security concerns, data, such as applying information from some operators have already introduced found that it would be relying entire- mobile phone base stations, is spreading openness into their network and the ly on Nokia and Ericsson for its criti- internationally as key to creating the best government has been implementing cal 5G infrastructure. Even though countermeasures against viral contagion. various promotion measures such as tax they are European companies, Digital incentives and support for R&D. Secretary Oliver Dowden said it still What’s your evaluation of the growing While the global trend to ensure open- represented “an intolerable resilience global trend that emphasizes the securi- ness and interoperability of 5G networks risk.” The country looked to Japan for ty of 5G networks? aims at enhanced network quality and alternatives. Now, the British govern- ICT, including 5G, is expected to be har- security, this also creates a more com- ment is partnering with Japan’s NEC nessed for use in every aspect of society, petitive market, opening new opportu- to launch a 5G Open Radio Access Net- and it is important as a foundation for nities for various businesses, including work (RAN) this year. future social development and economic Japanese ones. growth. Therefore, ensuring the safety Indeed, the strength of the Japanese 5G While Japan looks to launch more of and security of the ICT network is an model lies in its openness, secureness, its 5G technology at home and abroad, urgent and critical task. high quality (e.g. low power consump- the country has already set its sights on Meanwhile, there is also growing con- tion), and flexibility to meet various 6G. Continuing with the public-private cern that ICTs, which are making rapid needs. Since Japan was one of the first partnership approach that has helped progress, might bring about dark scenar- countries to institutionalize private 5G, grow its 5G technology, the Japanese ios involving surveillance societies. We Japanese businesses can propose 5G government is set to earmark $475 mil- believe it is important to foster ICT solu- systems with solutions using their own lion this year to promote the advance- tions that respect privacy, human rights rich experience in private 5G. ment of 6G mobile networks. Develop- ment of core technologies could be well underway by 2025, with 6G commercial launch pegged for 2030. JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 17

CORPORATE VIEWPOINTS Sponsored report VOICES FROM THE CUTTING EDGE Japanese companies have long been leaders in innovation and technology. Inspired by the government’s vision for a more connected, sustainable and inclusive world, they are creating the tools and infrastructure to support that future. With world-class technology in areas like robotics, artificial intelligence and 5G, they are poised to make global waves in the years to come. Read the full interviews at foreignpolicy.com/japanpresentfuture NEC “We are working to NEC Corp is one of Japan’s transformation in the next and private entities. As an protect data privacy leading ICT and electronics five to 10 years, and NEC example of our commitment to and security across our companies. In its 120-year has significant assets and leveraging our technologies business operations” history, it has pioneered a capabilities to help drive to help tackle ever-evolving range of global technologies, this transformation.  societal challenges, this TAKAYUKI MORITA, most recently cutting-edge past year we were excited to PRESIDENT AND CEO, biometric authentication, 5G, What is your strategy for the provide the Hawaii Department NEC  facial recognition and AI.   US market?  of Transportation with a NEC is continually working to multimodal biometric solution As the new CEO, what is your further align our US business that can detect elevated body vision for the company? with our goal of being a temperatures and help keep The world is becoming social value innovator, and travelers and employees safe increasingly connected and we plan to continue helping in Hawaii airports. network technologies will US customers securely meet We are also helping to build play a transformative role their identity management, strong, secure, accessible in not only changing how communications, and other communication networks as we communicate but how technological needs. We are a trusted vendor across the business is conducted across proud to have longstanding United States through 5G verticals. We expect industries biometric identity management initiatives supporting Open to undergo important partnerships with US public RAN (Radio Access Network). 18 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE

RAKUTEN NTT DOCOMO FUJITSU MICKEY MIKITANI, MOTOYUKI II, SHINGO MIZUNO, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CORPORATE EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ RAKUTEN NTT DOCOMO INC.  VICE HEAD OF SYSTEM PLATFORM BUSINESS, FUJITSU Rakuten is often compared to Amazon, With 79 million customers, NTT not only for its e-commerce platform but DOCOMO Inc is one of the world’s On the cutting edge of the technologies also its vast ecosystem of innovative largest mobile phone operators. set to define the 21st century, Fujitsu is activities. Present in 30 countries, Internationally famed for creating behind breakthroughs like the world’s including the US, its services include the emoji, it now aims to lead the fastest supercomputer, advanced fintech, ICT, e-books, health and more.  way in digital transformation. artificial intelligence and leading 5G technology. What’s been your approach to creating How do you envision NTT DOCOMO’S the Rakuten Mobile network? future in the US?  How do you think 5G will change Last spring, we built and launched the NTT DOCOMO is currently business? world’s first large-scale commercial open- providing solutions mainly focused 5G offers the potential to accelerate the architecture network. It is horizontal, bottom- on the Internet of Things (IoT) to digitization of field operations, solve up, and open software-driven, constructed corporate users in the US through various social problems, and transform from off-the-shelf parts and powered our US subsidiary. We will continue customer operations. By connecting by cloud computing. When creating the expanding our global business everything in real time, 5G optimizes Rakuten Mobile network, we sought to do in terms of 5G and IoT networks data processing models that leverage the and solutions by utilizing the NTT cloud and edge computing. I’m confident “We are working hard to personalize group’s assets in North America that the use of such data across industries the online shopping experience. and other locations abroad. If we will eliminate boundaries among different Thanks to AI, we hope to replicate have the opportunity, we would also industries and create entirely new online Japan’s famed omotenashi business models. Ultimately, the transition spirit of selfless hospitality” “We are collaborating closely from 4G to 5G will be a continuous with US companies to create process. We believe 5G technology will something that’s never been done before. new value for 5G services” emerge seamlessly and steadily with the Our goal was to democratize the telecom evolution of digital transformation. industry by lowering the cost barrier not only like to deliver the capacities that in Japan but around the world. And now, we’ve acquired in the BtoC Smart “Carrying out digital with 5G, as the world stands on the cusp Life business, such as the payment transformation has become an of a telecommunications revolution – one platform business, to the global urgent challenge not only for that resembles how personal computers market – US included.   governments but for all industries” replaced mainframes – we are bringing For the next generation 6G and Japan back into the telecom field globally. IOWN networks, we are partnering How can Fujitsu contribute to American with leading companies in the US 5G networks?  How can Rakuten play a role in the digital such as AT&T, Verizon Wireless, We believe that 5G represents the vital transformation of society? Qualcomm, NVIDIA, Intel, VMware network infrastructure underlying efforts We can be a leader. Empowering society and Dell Technologies, to promote to make digital transformation a reality. through innovation and technology has the activities of the O-RAN To create this open 5G ecosystem, we always been our most important goal. It’s Alliance, which was formed by look forward to working with a variety of why we’re investing heavily in pioneering telecommunication operators and partners to deliver different products and mobile technology. It’s why we are manufacturers to drive embedded solutions and system integration services developing our capabilities in AI, cloud intelligence and new levels of to help contribute to the realization of computing, autonomous drone delivery, openness in the radio access North America’s 5G networks. We believe smart logistics and more. We are working network of 5G, and next-generation that policies to exclude products of hard to personalize the online shopping wireless systems.  sensitive origin and the promotion of Open experience. Our image recognition of We will continue to utilize RAN offer significant market opportunities products utilizes deep learning, classifying our world-leading technical not only for Fujitsu and Japanese vendors, items automatically based on images. We advantages and support the but also for many new vendors. We are aim to have computers recognize products growth of our customers doing a trusted partner of governments across without human intervention – helping both business in the US market. the world, and we take pride in our high our merchants and their customers. security standard. JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE 19

TOURISM Sponsored report Japan for Every Season 01 We still can’t travel but we can always dream. And the moment it becomes safe to explore the world again, let Japan blow your mind. 02 03 05 04 07 1. Autumnal branches shape Mount Fuji as it reflects 20 JAPAN: PRESENT/FUTURE off Lake Kawaguchi. 2. Snowboarders pass by the famous ‘snow monsters’ of Mount Zao. 06 3. The Sumida Fireworks Festival lights up Tokyo skies each July. 4. A springtime boat ride on the moat of Himeji Castle. 5. A woman in a kimono strolls through Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. 6. Scenes from the Awa Dance Festival, held in August on Shikoku island. 7. Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) temple, first built in 1397. 8 Japanese macaques warm up in the Jigokudani hot springs. 08 PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK This publication has been produced in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in the USA

Course Correction A podcast from Doha Debates with Nelufar Hedayat Challenge yourself to change the world Reparations and race, COVID-19 policy and the limits of free speech — many of the world’s biggest issues are also the most polarizing. Nelufar takes on these tough topics and more over 12 episodes, talking to people who challenge her views as she works to identify solutions and bridge divides. Listen to Course Correction wherever you get your podcasts DohaDebates.com/Listen

The Art of the Jumla Why India’s Narendra Modi keeps getting away with failure. By Nikhil Kumar D uring his first campaign for national office in 2014, Narendra Modi made a memorable pledge. If elected as India’s prime minister, he would launch a crusade to repatriate untaxed wealth stashed abroad by unscru- pulous businesspeople. The recovered bounty, Modi promised, would be worth as much as $25,000 for every Indian, a colossal sum. About a year after Modi won, with no sign of the windfall, a local broadcaster asked the Indian leader’s election mastermind and closest political ally, Amit Shah, what had happened. “Look, this is a jumla,” said Shah, now India’s interior minister. The obscure word—found in Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati, the official language of Gujarat state, Modi and Shah’s home turf—literally means sentence or clause. But as Modi’s star has grown brighter, a different connotation has gained prominence: a false promise or gross exaggeration. 112 S P R I N G 2 02 1 Illustration by NOVEMBER

DECODER “This was just a way of campaigning,” Shah said, insisting countryside. Modi said India would effectively shut down for that the public understood that no individual would ever receive such a massive cash injection. He might as well have 21 days, during which it would defeat the virus. As was clear added, “What, you didn’t get it?” to many experts at the time, these were more empty words. As Modi begins his eighth year in power, Shah’s poker-faced defense seems all the more telling. The jumla phenomenon Why do these lofty promises continue to work for Modi? offers a guide to understanding not just how India’s reigning populist campaigns but also how he governs—and why he The prime minister has used jumlas to portray himself as on keeps winning despite a series of major policy failures. The truth or falsity of his claims hardly seems to matter. What the side of the so-called honest Indian left behind as the econ- wins the day, and continues to win Modi elections, is his apparent intent, transmitted to a young, desperate popula- omy opened up and the country grew its own small army of tion via carefully crafted jumlas. billionaires. Demonetization may have failed to achieve its The best example came in late 2016, when Modi unveiled one of his most dramatic moves: demonetization, which policy objectives, but it worked to show young, poor Indians scrapped high-denomination currency notes and rendered the vast majority of money in circulation illegal with immedi- that the prime minister intended to go after corrupt elites. ate effect. India’s economy runs mostly on cash transactions, and stunned Indians struggled to get their hands on the newly Hundreds of millions of others have found themselves locked issued currency, creating chaos at banks. The government said it intended to target tax evaders and counterfeiters. The out of a system where basic resources, from health care to idea was that those holding untaxed wealth, known in India as black money, wouldn’t want to be identified when they went education, remain in short supply. in to exchange their stockpiles of old currency for new notes. In Modi’s telling, these inequities are the fault of those who Modi said demonetization would “break the grip of cor- ruption and black money” while ordinary citizens would governed before him. In an interview with a local newspaper only have to put up with “temporary hardships.” That didn’t turn out to be true. Official data shows that the policy didn’t during his reelection campaign, he talked about the “Khan achieve its goal of exposing criminals, as almost all the old currency was returned. Local reports later revealed that Market gang”—a reference to one of Delhi’s toniest markets, India’s central bankers had told Modi that the measure wouldn’t work. Much of the fallout landed on India’s poor- long a haunt of the richest and best connected. “Modi’s image est citizens. People lost their jobs as businesses went under or were forced to scale back their operations. For Modi’s oppo- has not been created by the Khan Market gang, or Lutyens nents, demonetization looked like a classic jumla: a bold promise that proved economically ruinous for many Indians. Delhi, but 45 years of his toil … good or bad,” the prime min- Yet Modi’s popularity only increased. Not long after he ister said, referring to the upscale, British-built central Delhi upended the cash economy, his Bharatiya Janata Party won by a landslide in elections in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most pop- enclave where the market is located. ulous and most electorally significant state. Today, even as concerns grow about the systematic oppression of India’s Never mind that a policy fails, that what Modi says is clearly minorities and the smothering of dissent, Modi’s success at the polls has continued, cementing his position as the god- false—at least he’s trying. The messaging is clear: Modi is a head of Indian politics. When he ran for reelection in 2019, he defied predictions and increased his parliamentary majority. doer, working to fix a system that served his predecessors Modi has also relied on jumlas under crisis. At the out- rather than the public. In his public appearances and on social set of the coronavirus pandemic last March, he plunged India into a sudden and all-encompassing nationwide lock- media, where he is far and away the most influential politi- down. The decision pushed millions of daily-wage laborers into the streets and migrant workers onto packed buses, cian in India, Modi presents himself as India’s pradhan sevak, robbed of their already shaky livelihoods. It also helped spread the virus nationwide as the urban poor returned to the or prime servant in Hindi—a play on pradhan mantri, which means prime minister. The focus isn’t on whether or not he delivers but on who he is, an idea that he hammers home with consummate skill. In early 2017, when someone jokingly tweeted that Modi “works for me,” the Indian leader replied by saying, “Absolutely. Happy to be the Pradhan Sevak for each and every Indian.” A splintered and ineffective opposition at the national level has only helped Modi’s cause, enabling him to hone his image even as his policies fail. Meanwhile, pressure on the media to toe the government line has allowed Modi and his proxies to continue making big claims that go unchallenged. India is still grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. While its caseload hasn’t spiraled to the levels feared by some experts, recent spikes in certain regions have raised concerns about a new wave. The unplanned nature of last year’s lockdown exacted a heavy economic toll. But politically, it seems to have worked for Modi, who again came across as a doer, taking decisive action in the face of an unprecedented threat. The prime minister’s approval ratings have dipped only marginally over the last year, con- firming his skill at the art of the jumla. Q NIKHIL KUMAR is a writer and journalist based in New Delhi. 113F O R E I G N P O L I C Y.C O M

The Lionel Gelber Prize 2021 Finalists The Lionel Gelber Prize is presented in The world’s most partnership with the University of Toronto’s important prize Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy HQTPQPƂEVKQP and Foreign Policy magazine. Named for the Canadian scholar and diplomat Lionel Gelber, — The Economist the Prize is awarded annually for the best book in English on international affairs. Isolationism: A History Killer High: A History Trade Wars Are Class Twilight of Democracy: War: How Conflict of America’s Efforts of War in Six Drugs Wars: How Rising The Seductive Lure of Shaped Us to Shield Itself From Peter Andreas Inequality Distorts Authoritarianism the World the Global Economy Margaret MacMillan Oxford University Press and Threatens Anne Applebaum Charles A. Kupchan International Peace Allen Lane / Penguin Signal / McClelland Random House Oxford University Press Matthew C. Klein and Stewart Michael Pettis Yale University Press www.munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber