Third Meeting

Thursday, March 8, 2001

Meeting Agenda

Matters relating to the Constitution of Japan (A vision for Japan in the 21st century)

After a statement was heard from Mr. SON Masayoshi concerning the above matters, questions were put to him.

Informant

  • SON Masayoshi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Softbank Corporation

Members who put questions to Mr. SON


Main points of Mr. SON's statement

Introduction

>> Having previously experienced an agricultural revolution and an industrial revolution, humanity is now in the midst of an information revolution.

>>In the age of the information revolution, computers could acquire capabilities surpassing those of human beings as the number of processor elements increases and as computers modeled on the human brain are developed. It is important that we master machines, rather than being used by them.

>> High-speed Internet networks are being created in Asia. However, Japan has definitely fallen far behind in this area, and it should take immediate steps to deregulate and to encourage competition in order to create a high-speed Internet network.

A Constitution for the 21st Century

A Constitution for the 21st century should be predicated on the IT revolution and on globalization. In enacting such a Constitution, the following points are important:

>> In response to the spread of the Internet, the Constitution should stipulate a right of Internet access, i.e., a right of free and equal access to information, and it should also guarantee a right to protection of one's privacy. Further, in view of the fact that computer viruses and hacker attacks pose a real danger to the Internet, there is a need for measures to establish Internet security.

>> By introducing an electronic voting system that actively utilizes the Internet, we should set up a system for the direct popular election of a national leader, as in a presidential system. Also, voting should, in effect, be made compulsory, and voting rights should be granted to all citizens aged 18 years and over.

>> Japan should participate in collective security arrangements such as United Nations forces, and should rely on such arrangements for the resolution of all disputes, provided that, in the event of aggression against Japan, the nation should, of course, be permitted to exercise the right of self-defense.

>> Japan should contribute actively to the international community, in part by attaining permanent membership of the UN Security Council, and in part by actively providing leadership through such organizations as the World Bank and the IMF in order to solve problems on a global scale, including problems of energy and global warming.

>> We should reform education to meet the needs of the Internet era; for example, we should foster creative thinking and the ability to gather information. Also, we should promote English language education that meets the needs of globalization.

>> As the population of Japan is expected to decline, leading to economic stagnation, we should plan to actively accept immigrants in order to secure human resources that will benefit Japan; for example, we should relax the requirements for obtaining Japanese nationality.

>> In order to ensure equal opportunity for venture companies, the Constitution should state clearly that no monopolies will be permitted, and the Anti-Monopoly Law should be thoroughly enforced.

Main points of questions put to Mr. SON

ITO Tatsuya (Liberal Democratic Party)

>> How do you evaluate the "e-Japan plan" issued by the IT Strategy Headquarters?

>> I believe that we should adopt systematic policies to promote competition, based on private-sector leadership, by reviewing existing regulations and eliminating market monopolies. What is your view in this regard?

>> Taking into account the different intellectual and historical backgrounds of the Western nations and Asia, do you think that Western IT societies and Asian IT societies are similar or different in nature?

>> What basic principles should be added to the Constitution for the 21st century?

>> As IT societies develop internationally, what do you think should be the nature of Japan's bilateral relationships, for instance, with South Korea and the United


HOSONO Goshi (Democratic Party of Japan and Club of Independents)

>> It seems to me that Japan's approach to promoting the IT revolution relies on government direction rather than private-sector competition. What is your assessment of this approach?

>> What do you think would be the advantages or the effects of stipulating the right of access to information and the right of privacy in the Constitution? Also, since IT issues need to be addressed at a global level, I believe that we should pay attention to such areas as the enactment of international laws relating to the information sector. What are your views in this regard?

>> Under the Public Offices Election Law, there are certain restrictions on utilization of the Internet in election campaigns. I believe that these restrictions should be removed in order to allow candidates to campaign at low cost and to publicize their policies widely. What is your view of this?

>> Even if the requirements for obtaining Japanese nationality were to be relaxed, I believe that the right to vote in local elections should be granted to foreign permanent residents. What is your view of this?  


KOIKE Yuriko (New Conservative Party)

>> Why do you think that relaxing the requirements for acquisition of Japanese nationality should be a higher priority than granting voting rights in local elections to foreign permanent residents?

>> I believe that the IT revolution will change the nature of popular participation in politics. What are your expectations of the politics of the future?  


FUJISHIMA Masayuki (Liberal Party)

>> I believe that the first step in promoting the growth of an IT society must be extensive deregulation. What is your view of this?

>> What reforms of the capital market do you think are necessary in order to foster venture companies? Also, how should the government assist venture companies?

>> In my view, the problem of computer viruses cannot be dealt with by individual countries; instead, there is a need for worldwide, coordinated countermeasures. What is your view of this?  


HARUNA Naoaki (Japanese Communist Party)

>> The IT-related budget for the next fiscal year has largely been allocated to improve the network of underground telecommunications cables under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In your view, is this an effective use of funds?

>> I believe that in the future, as online activity increases in commerce and other fields, protection of personal information and consumer protection will be essential. What are your views in this regard?

>> While the IT revolution creates jobs, at the same time there is concern that, by increasing efficiency, it may lead to a rise in unemployment. How can we link the IT revolution to job expansion, as has been done in the United States?  


OSHIMA Reiko (Social Democratic Party)

>> With regard to the use of military force, you said that Japan should participate only in United Nations forces, but do you take the position that Japan should have an army?

>> What should be done to utilize information technology for peaceful purposes?

>> There is much debate over the long working hours and the lower wage levels that have resulted from the general introduction of a discretionary working hours system. As a business operator, how do you view this situation?  


SAITO Tetsuo (New Komeito)

>> There are predictions that, as information technology becomes more advanced, human beings might even be replaced by machines. Is there not a need for safeguards of some kind with regard both to bioethics and to information ethics?

>> As Japan becomes an IT society, there will inevitably be a growing "digital divide" among the people. What welfare policy measures are needed to remedy this situation?

>> You spoke in favor of a presidential system, but would you be in favor of any system, such as popular election of the prime minister, that enabled the public to vote directly for a national leader?  


KONDO Motohiko (21st Century Club)

>> What is your assessment of the Internet Fair 2001 Japan?

>> Should the government take the lead in improving IT-related infrastructure, or should this be done by the private sector? Also, do you not agree that if the private sector takes the lead, remote areas of the country will not be provided with adequate infrastructure?

>> Do you not agree that, in order to deal with IT-related issues such as safeguards against computer viruses and protection of privacy, an international charter relating to IT should be drawn up and domestic legislation should be improved on that basis?