Member of the House of Representatives and Minister of Reconstruction, Kozaburo Nishime

As Minister of Reconstruction, I will report on the current state of Fukushima and make it a world-class city.

■ Profile

Born in 1954. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Sophia University. After joining the Okinawa Development Finance Corporation, he studied at Tulane University Graduate School in the United States. He then served as secretary to the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and as a member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, before being elected to the House of Representatives five times. He has previously served as State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, and will serve as Minister of Reconstruction and Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs in the Cabinet Office from October 2021.

As Minister for Reconstruction, House of Representatives member Kozaburo Nishime is working closely with the disaster-stricken areas and working hard every day to resolve current issues. We spoke to Minister Nishime about his own memorable university days and his thoughts on the disaster-stricken areas. We also asked him about the goals of the Fukushima International Research and Education Organization, which the Reconstruction Agency, whose establishment has been extended for another 10 years, is hoping to establish.

■ His hard-working student days deepened his bonds with his classmates

I devoted myself to judo in college, and it felt more like I graduated from the judo club than I did from college. I was a baseball player in middle and high school, so I started judo in college, and it was hard to practice with my classmates who had practiced judo in middle and high school. There were days when I regretted joining the judo club because of the tough training, but it was a good experience that allowed me to deepen my friendships with the guys in the judo club.

However, because I spent every day at school with my judo club friends, I had absolutely no contact with women during those four years. I attended Sophia University, which had a large female student population, but I have no memories of spending time with women during my time at university, to the point that I don't think I ever had a conversation with a woman.

However, there have been a few times when I have tried to approach women I was interested in.
The first one was a senior who was a cheerleader when I was on the cheer squad. Back then, there were no cell phones, so I couldn't get her contact information, but I gave her flowers at her graduation ceremony. I didn't get to talk to her, so I just handed her the flowers and left, but it's a fond memory.
The second girl was a woman who came into the classroom late for class. She was a very beautiful woman, and I became interested in her, so I wrote down my feelings in a letter and gave it to her. I received a letter back, but it said, "Let's just be friends," so unfortunately, our romance never came to fruition. However, both memories remain fond memories of my time at university.

I also studied hard during my university years. I had almost all my credits completed by my third year, and by my fourth year, all I had left was my seminar, so I was so dedicated to my classes. I think the reason I was able to study so hard was because I had always wanted to study abroad in the United States or the Philippines. I wasn't able to realize that dream while I was a student, but I continued studying after entering the workforce and finally got the opportunity to study abroad in the United States. However, even while my dream had come true, I still had to study every day, commuting back and forth between the library and school, and to be honest, it was painful. However, I now believe that this experience was the foundation of who I am today.

■ As Minister of Reconstruction, I will share the current state of Fukushima with the world

As Minister for Reconstruction, the most important thing is to be committed to a hands-on approach and work closely with the victims. I have visited the disaster-stricken areas many times, seeing the situation on the ground and listening to their voices firsthand, so that I can work to resolve issues that are in line with the victims. This March marks the 11th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, in Fukushima, approximately 34,000 people are still forced to live in evacuation centers. Although 11 years have passed since the disaster, the scars of the disaster still remain in the affected areas. This is why the Reconstruction Agency, which was originally established within the Cabinet for a period of 10 years after the disaster, has been extended until 2031.

The proposed budget for reconstruction projects in fiscal year 4 is 5790 billion yen, of which 4452 billion yen has been earmarked for reconstruction and revitalization from the nuclear disaster. Each municipality faces different challenges, including areas where decontamination work has yet to be completed, areas where the population has decreased due to temporary evacuations, and areas lacking infrastructure and housing facilities. It is crucial to focus on the local issues, identify the challenges facing each municipality, and determine how best to address these issues while remaining sympathetic to the victims within a limited budget.

I also hope that by establishing the Fukushima International Research and Education Organization in Fukushima, which will bring together domestic and international experts in fields such as robotics and create a base for research and education, we will be able to move closer to the recovery of Fukushima. Our immediate goal will be to create a framework by March and have the law passed by the Diet. I believe that we must make this Fukushima International Research and Education Organization a world-class institution.

Currently, 14 countries and regions impose import restrictions on food products produced in Fukushima Prefecture. Recently, Taiwan has announced a plan to ease restrictions, and there are moves to lift or relax these restrictions in other countries and regions. Going forward, we must work persistently to lift import restrictions in countries such as China and South Korea, where restrictions remain, but the image of Fukushima food products around the world has not yet improved. While the data shows that food products from the disaster-stricken areas are safe, the reality is that this information has not yet reached the world. It is my sincere hope that by establishing the Fukushima International Research and Education Institute, the current situation in Fukushima will be conveyed to the world.

■Message to students

Now 67 years old, I believe the most important things in life are hard work and maintaining healthy teeth. When I went to study in the United States, I was worried about getting cavities, so I had my teeth treated before leaving Japan. Teeth are essential for eating, and we need to eat every day. I realized this when I went to study in the United States at the age of 26, and I realized that teeth are the most important thing in life. Even just spending five minutes before each meal learning something beneficial will bring you closer to your goals. While it may be difficult to maintain those five minutes every day, consistent hard work will surely help you. Make the most of your four years of university with hard work and strong teeth.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on February 14, 2022 by Kokoro Sato, second-year student at Tsuda University