From the Desk of Consul General Osumi

Something from Zero; Doing Things Differently
   From 2017 to 2019, I worked at the Embassy of Japan in Israel. At that time, Israel was already well-known as the “Startup Nation,” producing innovative technologies such as free navigation apps, collision prevention systems using sensors and cameras, flash memory and file compression algorithms, and drip irrigation technology. I was deeply inspired by their culture of “creating something from zero” and doing things differently from others. After returning to Tokyo, I was assigned the role of Counselor for Cybersecurity and IT Policy in the Minister’s Secretariat. I took it as a sign of fate. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the idea of a “Digital Agency” even existed, I decided one summer day, “Digitalization is where the world is headed; let’s push for digital transformation (DX) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” It was a lonely and uncertain journey, but eventually, the times caught up: the establishment of the Digital Agency and the then-Vice Minister’s sudden declaration of a serious commitment to DX followed. When a young staff member told me, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ DX is a beacon of hope for the younger generation,” I was deeply moved and became even more committed. Generative AI had not yet emerged, but I had already heard a sense of urgency from a leading Japanese AI expert who visited Israel. That made me acutely aware of the challenge of how to incorporate technological innovation into a traditionally structured workplace. As DX progressed, it began to ripple into changes in mindset, work styles, and human resource development, eventually becoming a powerful current involving the entire Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It’s impressive to see how far it has come.

   Since assuming my current post in the fall of 2023, I have continued to explore how we, as a consulate, can create something new and useful for society—something from zero, something different from others. Together with the staff, we’ve been working on this, and today, I’d like to introduce a few of those efforts.


1. PI Map
   Do you know what “PI” stands for? It means Principal Investigator; the person responsible for leading a research project at a university or similar institution.
   Japan has produced many world-class scientists over the years. Many of them once ventured abroad to hone their skills and made significant contributions, serving as bridges between Japan and the rest of the world. In the Bay Area, for example, Nobel laureate Professor Shinya Yamanaka still visits regularly to engage in research.
   Recently, there has been concern over the decline in the number of Japanese students studying abroad and Japan’s diminishing presence at international conferences. In this context, Japanese PIs active overseas are invaluable human assets. Through accepting talented students and supporting the development of excellent researchers, they serve as vital bridges for scientific and technological exchange between Japan and the U.S.
   Although the need to compile a list of these PIs and build a loose network among them has been pointed out before, no such initiative had materialized until now. Led by Consul Chikae, Director Yusaku Nakabeppu of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) San Francisco Research Office, and our Science and Technology Fellow, Associate Professor Kazuhito Morioka at UCSF, we created a PI Map covering 34 university professors and researchers residing in the Bay Area. This map has now been published on the Consulate General’s website. On February 3rd, we held the first roundtable discussion with these PIs at my residence, welcoming guests such as Dr. Motoko Kotani, Deputy Science and Technology Advisor to the Foreign Minister and Japanese students studying abroad. Some professors mentioned that although they had lived in the area for many years, it was their first time being contacted by the Japanese Consulate. Many of them, as scholars working abroad, expressed a strong sense of patriotism and a willingness to contribute to meaningful initiatives. I felt the value of “convening power”—the ability to bring together people from various fields.
  
   We plan to share this PI map with relevant ministries and universities in Japan. We hope it will be used by young people who aspire to go abroad and by Japanese universities seeking international research collaborations. Producing tangible results is key, and ultimately, our goal is to foster and support outstanding scientists, promote international cooperation, and strengthen Japan’s scientific and diplomatic capabilities.

2. Japanese Language Education Roundtable and the Diamond
   Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, I visited two schools, Rosa Parks and Clarendon Elementary, that offer Japanese-English bilingual education. I was deeply impressed (see Consul General’s Essay 1 and 3). Language is at the heart of culture, and Japanese language classes in local schools are extremely important for broadening and deepening an understanding of Japan. However, foreign language education constantly faces the risk of being discontinued due to factors like school district demographics, lack of student interest, and budget constraints. With the awareness that maintaining Japanese language education is not a given and that it requires active support, our consulate launched a roundtable initiative last year, bringing together local Japanese language teachers, members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (JCCNC), and sister city association representatives. Through discussions among members, we developed a vision statement based on an inclusive, community-driven process that welcomes everyone who is interested and engaged. The statement set two key goals: one, to expose students to Japan, and two, to show them career pathways related to Japan for the future.　We also agreed to take concrete actions, such as organizing visits to Japanese company headquarters and visits by Japanese company personnel to Japanese language classes (see Essay 12).　
   In line with this, our consulate has taken several steps. For the first goal, we have engaged in public outreach at events, school visits by consulate staff, and arranging tea ceremony experiences in a traditional Japanese tea room, in partnership with a local Japanese tea group. For the second goal, we have coordinated school visits by local Japanese businesses, revamped our comprehensive Japanese language learning webpage, and created a guide for aspirational Japanese learners entitled “The Path to Becoming a Japanese Language Teacher.”
   This initiative, led by Consul Hiroshi Dambara, Advisor Yuriko Sugahara, began in the Bay Area, but this year, we expanded to Sacramento and Monterey-Salinas. During our visits to these regions, we met with superintendents, visited schools with Japanese language programs, encouraged teachers, and held roundtable discussions to connect educators with local Japanese and Japanese American communities. We were moved by the tireless dedication of the teachers, and many appreciated the consulate’s convening power in bringing together people who otherwise rarely meet.
   Moreover, Japanese language education is not an isolated issue. It connects with other important areas. We hope that young people will not only study Japanese, but participate in the JET Program, engage in sister city activities, and connect with the Japanese American community. We envision this as a diamond-shaped network of interlinked efforts, and we aim to devote even more effort to these activities going forward.

3. Dual-Use Tech Seminar
   Silicon Valley, often considered the heart of global innovation, originally emerged through its ties with the defence. A prime example is the Internet, which was initially developed for defense purposes and later spread worldwide. In recent years, however, the trend has reversed. Civilian technologies are increasingly being adapted for defense applications. One notable development is the establishment of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) by the U.S. Department of Defense in Silicon Valley. This organization promotes the application of innovative civilian technologies, especially those developed by startups for defense purposes.
   Japan’s National Security Strategy, announced in November 2022, also states that the government will “work across ministries to create an environment where the defense industry can fully leverage civilian innovation.” In line with this, ministries such as the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are now leading a government-wide effort in this area. More than two years have passed since that strategy was released, and with the international security environment becoming increasingly severe, it is now more urgent than ever for Japan to engage in the dual-use technology field. As innovation becomes a national priority, it is difficult for Japan or Japanese companies to tackle everything alone. It is essential to leverage the expertise of American companies in Silicon Valley, which possess cutting-edge technologies.
   With this in mind, on March 5th of this year, our consulate, led by Consul Ando and in cooperation with the JCCNC, hosted our first-ever Dual-Use Tech Seminar. The event featured speakers from the DIU and startups from both Japan and the U.S. Over 100 attendees gathered at the Japan Innovation Campus in Palo Alto, where they exchanged ideas to promote collaboration in this field between Japan and the U.S. While this was just the first step, we consider it a vital initiative and plan to continue investing effort into it, making full use of the consulate’s convening power.

Conclusion
   Our consulate was the first overseas diplomatic mission established by modern Japan, and it has historically served as a “gateway to the world” in Japan’s modern history. The strong presence of Japanese Americans who settled and built communities here is one of the reasons why Japanese language education remains vibrant in local schools. When Japan Airlines (JAL) launched its international routes, the very first was between San Francisco and Japan, a legacy still reflected in the flight number JAL001, departing from San Francisco to Haneda. Although the advent of the aviation era somewhat diminished San Francisco’s role as a “gateway to the world,” the rise of Silicon Valley transformed the region into a mecca of the digital industry. OpenAI, the company that ushered in the era of popularized generative AI, is headquartered right here in San Francisco. While our consulate may not be directly steering Japan’s national destiny through diplomacy, we aim to add value in ways that open new horizons for Japan, even if each step is small, by aligning with the flow of the times.

   With that in mind, since my arrival, I’ve raised the banner that this consulate should become a model “DX (Digital Transformation)” consulate among Japan’s overseas missions. Though results are still catching up, I’ve recently gone a step further and declared that we will become an “AI consulate.” Given the rapid pace of change in the world, I have a strong sense that the time will soon come when such a vision will be not only relevant but essential.