PROTOKOL NAGOYA: DEMI IBU BUMI

Akhirnya ”The Tenth Conference of the Parties to The Convention on Biological Diversity”, populer disebut COP10 (COPTen), yang berlangsung di Nagoya, Jepang, berakhir juga.

Dibuka secara resmi tanggal 18 Oktober dan dijadwalkan berakhir tanggal 29 Oktober. Namun alotnya pembicaraan telah memperpanjang waktu konferensi hingga hari Sabtu pagi tanggal 30 Oktober.

Konferensi telah melahirkan ”NAGOYA PROTOCOL”, menjawabi kekhawatiran yang semakin meningkat atas kerusakan alam dan lingkungan serta terancam punahnya keanekaragaman hayati di dalamnya.

Banyak pula isu dan topik terkait yang menyebabkan alotnya persidangan, khususnya tentang ”access and benefit sharing” (ABS) terhadap sumber-sumber keanekaragaman hayati tersebut.

Dokumen ”Protokol Nagoya” tentu akan segera menjadi konsumsi umum. Namun, mengingat kritisnya keadaan bumi kita yang dihuni bersama oleh manusia, hewan dan tumbuhan ini, hal yang paling mendesak ialah agar Protokol Nagoya segera bisa menjadi pedoman arah dan aksi untuk menjamin kelangsungan hidup Ibu Bumi (Mother Earth) secara lebih baik dan bertanggung jawab.

Boleh dikatakan bahwa COP10 di Nagoya ini merupakan puncak agenda Tahun Internasional Keragaman Hayati 2010. Dua tahun lagi konferensi serupa akan berlangsung di India.

Semboyan Tahun Internasional Keanekaragaman Hayati 2010 ialah ”Biodiversity is Life, Biodiversity is Our Life”. Sedangkan semboyan COP10 Nagoya ialah ”Life in Harmony, Into the Future”.

******

NAGOYA PROTOCOL
on Access and Benefit-sharing

http://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/protocol/nagoya-protocol-en.pdf/

LIFE IN HARMONY, INTO THE FUTURE

******

Henri Daros

KE “NAGOYA CASTLE”: TIDAK BOLEH TIDAK JIKA ANDA SUDAH TIBA DI KOTA NAGOYA

INFO: NAGOYA CASTLE IN OCTOBER

Free Tours of Nagoya Castle – in English!
During the COP10 Convention (Oct 9 – Oct 31) the AGGN (Aichi Goodwill Guides Network) offers a daily tour of Nagoya Castle. The tour departs from the East Gate of Nagoya Castle at 13:30. An entrance fee 500 Yen is required. No reservations needed. Details of other tours are here.

The Nagoya Omotenashi Busho Tai 名古屋おもてなし武将隊
If visiting Nagoya Castle don’t miss the “Nagoya Omotenashi Busho Tai” troupe. The group has 10 members, 4 ordinary soldiers and 6 well-known military commanders from Japanese history – including the likes of Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Ieyasu Tokugawa.

The group gives stage performances at 11:00 and 14:00 every Saturday, Sunday, and national holiday. Every day several members of the group will be in front of the castle keep and at the main entrance to greet visitors. The group members will be dressed up in full, samurai-style armour and visitors will have the opportunity to shake their favourite samurai by the hand and take a commemorative photo.

The official Nagoya 400 mascot, “Hachi-maru”, will also be at Nagoya Castle greeting visitors along with the “Nagoya Omotenashi Busho Tai” troupe every day for around 30 minutes each time at the following times: 09:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:45.

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Between October 16 and November 23 (09:00 – 16:30) a selection of 8 historically-themed mannequins wearing chrysanthemum clothes (kiku-ningyo 菊人形) will be on display outside the castle. This year’s theme is “Muneharu Tokugawa (1696 – 1764) and Castle Town Nagoya”.

Additionally until November 7 (09:00 – 16:30) there is a special exhibition of Tigers in Art inside Nagoya Castle. During the Momoyama and Edo Periods tigers were still native to much of mainland Asia, but not to Japan and tiger art came to Japan with Buddhism. Images of Tigers were painted at the entrances of temples and castles to guard their inhabitants. In this mini-exhibition there are over 40 paintings and drawings on display ranging from as early as the mid 13th century to the end of the Edo Period.

For both events admission to the castle is required; the castle is open 09:00 – 16:30. 

(Nagoya International Center) 

henri daros

Delegasi Universitas Sanata Dharma, Jogja, pada kesempatan pertemuan kerja sama di Universitas Nanzan, Nagoya, akhir Musim Gugur 2007, berkunjung pula ke Kastel Nagoya (Foto: Henri Daros)

INFO FESTIVAL KOLABORASI ANTARBANGSA 2010

Nagoya: World Collaboration Festival 2010　発見！体験！世界大交流祭　ワールド・コラボ・フェスタ 2010
When: Saturday, October 23 (10:00 – 18:00) and Sunday, October 24 (10:00 – 18:00)
Where: Oasis 21 オアシス21 in Sakae and Mochi-no-ki Hiroba　久屋大通公園もちの木広場in front of the TV Tower
Access: Sakae Subway Station, exit 4. Admission: Free

World Booths & Workshops
Mochi-no-ki Hiroba – (both days 10:00 – 16:00)
Sample food, buy goods, take part in various educational workshops and activities, and learn about good causes at the 60 booths hosted by non-profit groups and organizations.

Discover the World with NIC at the NIC Booth
(Oct 23 10:00 – 15:00, Oct 24 10:00 – 16:00)
Foreign residents from 22 countries including Canada, Belgium, and the Seychelles introduce their home countries and compare them to Japan in a series of short, 30 minute seminars (in Japanese) to the public as part of the NIC’s Classroom for Global Citizens program. October 23 – “Mottainai – waste and recycling”, October 24 – “diversity and preservation of culture”.

World Stage – Oasis 21 – both days 10:00 – 18:00
On stage performances of dancing and music from around the world:

October 23 – Gospel choir (10:00 – ), Irish Dance (10:50 – ), Original COP 10 Dance Story (11:15 – ), Egyptian Dance (11:40 – ) Tasmanian Music (12:05 – ) Sri Lankan Dance (12:30 – ), Stefani Rento Award Ceremony (12:55 – ), Music from the Andes (13:20 -), Capoeira Show (13:45 – ), Joropo & Salsa Performance (14:10 – ), Odissi Dance from India (14:35 – ), Taiko Drum Show (15:00 -), Discover the World with NIC (15:25 -), Terakoya Campaign (15:45 – ), Nagoya 400 & COP 10 World Dance (16:10 – ), JICA Report (16:35 – ), Kilauea Volcano Hula Dance (17:20 – )

October 24 – Songs for World Children (10:00 – ), Popular songs on the Mongolian Morin Khuur (10:25 – ), Caribbean Steelpan Show (10:50 – ), Hawaiian Hula (11:15 – ), Maracatu from Brazil (11:40 – ), COP 10 Talk Show (12:05 – ), Philippine Dance Show (13:10 – ), Peruvian Dance (13:35 – ), Eco quiz with Dr. John Gathright (14:00 – ), Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong Workshop (15:05 -), Music from Brazil (15:30 – ), Bali Dance (16:15 – ), “Global Connections!” Stage Show (16:40 – ), Prize Draw (17:25 -).

(NIC Event Information)

henri daros

KEANEKARAGAMAN HAYATI, SEMOGA TAK LAGI BERNASIB ANTARA HIDUP DAN MATI

 

Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, 18-29 October 2010

 

Pertemuan akbar ini, yaitu ”The Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity” yang secara singkat dan populer disebut COP10 (COPTen), dimulai hari ini, tanggal 18 Oktober 2010, di Nagoya, Jepang.

Konferensi akan berlangsung secara maraton selama 2 minggu, sampai tanggal 29 Oktober. Jepang bertindak sebagai tuan rumah. Pada awal September peserta yang terdaftar berjumlah 6000-an, lalu meningkat ke angka 8000-an pada awal Oktober, namun meledak menjadi 16.000 sehari menjelang konferensi dibuka.

Peserta berasal dari sekurang-kurangnya 193 negara yang hadir bersama segenap mitranya, serta kelompok-kelompok gerakan masyarakat madani sedunia, yang langsung ataupun tak langsung berkaitan dengan upaya perlindungan dan pemanfaatan keanekaragaman hayati.

Kegiatan yang berkaitan dengan COP10 ini sesungguhnya sudah mulai berlangsung sejak tanggal 11 Oktober dalam bentuk pertemuan kelompok-kelompok kerja, ”biodiversity expo”  serta aktivitas gerakan promosi cinta alam dan lingkungan yang diselenggarakan oleh pemerintahan Provinsi Aichi dan Kota Nagoya.

Dengan demikian para peserta dari luar negeri pun sudah mulai berdatangan sejak lebih dari seminggu sebelum konferensi berlangsung, khususnya mereka  yang ambil bagian pada pelbagai kegiatan tersebut. Demikian juga para peserta yang karena pelbagai alasan mesti mendaftarkan keikutsertaannya langsung di tempat konferensi, dan kesempatan itu memang dibuka secara resmi sejak tanggal 11 Oktober.

Suatu hal yang secara pribadi menggembirakan ialah kesempatan berjumpa dengan rekan-rekan dari kelompok ”civil society” yang selama ini selalu berkomunikasi dan bahu-membahu secara online dalam menghadapi isu-isu krusial. Sayang sekali tugas utama di kampus tidak memungkinkan partisipasi langsung pada sebagian besar kegiatan konferensi. Namun lawatan dan kehadiran pada pelbagai ”side events” yang sudah terjadwal, dan pertemuan dengan rekan-rekan pada waktu luang, sudah lebih dari cukup untuk menghirup aura konferensi.

Atmosfer konferensi pun tersalur ke gedung apartemen tempat tinggal saya di pintu timur kampus lewat kehadiran dua ahli sekaligus aktivis NGO dari luar Jepang yang minta menginap di tempat tersebut. Keduanya, masing-masing dari NGO yang berbeda, akan hadir sepenuhnya, dan dengan demikian menjadi tamu kami di situ selama konferensi berlangsung, meskipun hanya bisa berjumpa malam hari jika dilihat dari jadwal acara.

Life in Harmony, into the Future

Slogan COP10 ialah ”Life in Harmony, into the Future”. Sementara itu tak kurang populer pula sebuah slogan lain yang selalu dikutip dalam pelbagai kegiatan selama Tahun Keanekaragaman Hayati 2010 ini yaitu “Biodiversity is Life, Biodiversity is Our Life”.

Namun, tak pelak lagi, COP10 berlangsung pada saat para pakar dan ilmuwan menyampaikan peringatan serius tentang semakin berbahayanya ancaman terhadap nasib keanekaragaman hayati di seluruh penjuru bumi.

Itulah yang diingatkan oleh paling tidak sebuah organisasi yang tidak diragukan integritas dan latar belakangnya, yaitu ”The International Union for the Conservation of Nature”, yang beranggotakan ribuan ilmuwan, aktivis serta pejabat pemerintah. Data yang disampaikannya, atau pun oleh organisasi lainnya, sudah banyak disajikan lewat pelbagai media.

Melihat jumlah peserta konferensi yang sekian banyak, dan yang merupakan jumlah terbanyak selama ini, pantaslah untuk mengharapkan hasil terbaik dari hajatan COP10 ini bagi pemulihan dan pelestarian keanekaragaman hayati di mana pun saja di seluruh dunia.

Semoga nasib keanekaragaman hayati, ya semoga nasib Ibu Bumi (Mother Earth), tak lagi terombang-ambing ke sana ke mari antara hidup dan mati.

henri daros

NAGOYA: PUSAT SEKTOR INDUSTRI JEPANG

THE CENTER OF JAPAN’S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

Industrial Heritage

Nagoya and its surrounding area is the center of Japan’s industrial sector. Its solidly based production focuses on automobiles, general machinery, metal products, ceramics, and electric appliances. As economic links among nations continue to strengthen and expand, Nagoya strives to establish itself as an international production and economic center.

Industry in Nagoya traces its roots back to the 1600′s when the area prospered as a manufacturing region of cotton cloths, ceramics, and lumber products. In the mid 1800′s, spinning, weaving, watch and clock manufacturing, and other light industries took on new life with the Meiji Restoration. 

By the 1900′s, factories for textiles, ceramics, automobiles, steel, and clocks were built in the suburbs and the foundations for Nagoya’s industrial development were set in place. The Taisho period saw a radical change in the industrial picture in Nagoya. The traditional light industries gave way to military related production. Heavy industries, especially motor, vehicle, machinery, chemical, and aircraft production took center stage.

With the end of World War II in 1945, Nagoya’s industry refocused its objectives, and production shifted from airplanes and military materials to consumer related products that were in great demand at the time. The machine tool, weaving machinery, precision tool, automobile, and the chemical industries blossomed around the Port of Nagoya.

In recent decades, the industrial structure in Nagoya has changed dramatically. In the 1970′s, the number of employees in the manufacturing sector decreased, while distribution and service workers reached record numbers. In the 1980′s, manufacturing, macaronis, fine ceramics, and other related industries took on new life as industry moved into a high-tech phase. There was a greater demand for higher quality products, both in Japan and overseas.

Outside the retail sector, however, the service industry continued to grow. Particularly, the information and communication sectors continued to expand. Recently, technologies such as information processing, communication, new transportation systems, disaster prevention, and biotechnology are being explored and developed.

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INDUSTRI-INDUSTRI  UTAMA NAGOYA

Nagoya’s Main Industries

■Automobiles

The automobile industry is the main economy in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. The headquarters and production plants of several world-renowned automobile manufactures such as Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi are located in the area.

■Machinery

Nagoya is Japan’s center of machinery production. All forms of new technologies are being introduced. The widespread application of integrated circuit technology had led to the rapid improvement of machine tools, industrial robots, office and home appliances, automobiles, and precision equipment.

■Ceramics and Fine Ceramics

Nagoya and surrounding areas have been engaged in the ceramics industry since the 12th and 13th centuries and are well known for their high quality white clay used to produce porcelain. Noritake, Seto, and Narumi are among big names of fine china located in the area.

The fine ceramics industry is also centered in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. Fine ceramics is applied in numerous fields including large-scale integrated circuits, high-voltage insulators, engines, machine parts, and artificial bones. There are 27 production facilities and 21 laboratories engaged in basic and applied research in the area of fine ceramics. 

(Nagoya International Center)

 henri daros

FESTIVAL KHAS KOTA NAGOYA

THE NAGOYA FESTIVAL 2010

The Nagoya Festival 名古屋まつり is Nagoya’s largest festival. The festival’s main attraction is its parade, but there are also events at Oasis 21, Hisaya-odori Park, and other spots around the City.

The Parade of the Three Feudal Lords 郷土英傑行列
The festival’s main attraction is its parade with the procession of Nagoya’s 3 local feudal, Nobunaga ODA, Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, and Ieyasu TOKUGAWA, along with 700 of their followers. The parade is done over two different routes over two days and features 9 dashi (festival floats) which are city designated cultural assets, a 8 kagura floats (city cultural assets), a children’s “Mikoshi” parade, and a flower car. To commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Okehazama (fought in modern-day Midori Ward) this year’s parade will include Yoshimoto IMAGAWA and troops from the battle.

Secure your free roadside spot early at Sakae and City Hall to get a prime view of the planned samurai battle re-enactments at the rear of the parade. In case of rain the parades will be cancelled.

★Saturday, October 16
■Order: Flower cars, Nana-chan parade, Okehazama reenactment troops, main samurai parade
■Route: Nagoya Station (13:40 – 14:43), Sasashima / Spiral Tower* (13:51 – 15:09), Fushimi (14:24 – 15:37), Sakae – Mitsukoshi (14:50 – 16:07), Yabacho (15:15 – 16:24). After the parade, part of the samurai contingent (including the 3 heroes) will perform at in Hisayaodori Park’s Hisaya Hiroba (Yaba-cho Subway Station exit 5 or 6)

★Sunday, October 17
■Order: Dashi floats, kagura floats, and children’s parade (until Sakae), Sister City parade and flower cars (until Yabacho), Nana-chan parade, Arimatsu / Narumi Shibori parade, Okehazama reenactment troops, main samurai parade.
■Route: Shiyakusho (City Hall)* (11:00 – 14:04), Sakura-dori Otsu (11:29 – 14:30), Sakae – Mitsukoshi * (11:43 – 14:53), Yabacho (13:28 – 15:12), Akamon (14:14 – 15:16)

* indicates mock battle

Other Events
In Hisaya-odori Park, award-winning dance teams from August’s Nippon Domannaka Dance Festival will perform on stage (October 16 (19:30 – 20:30, October 17 (19:00 – 20:00) in Hisaya-odori Koen). On October 16, visitors will also have a chance to find out about and experience Nagoya’s cultural and historical heritage with displays from traditional entertainers. 

THE OSU STREET PERFORMERS FESTIVAL  大須大道町人祭

Around 45 groups of street performers, musicians, and artists will be showing off their skills with their dances, juggling, and magic routines. The highlight of the festival are the oiran processions through the packed streets of the Osu shopping district. The oiran, were high-class, Edo-era female entertainers only available to Japan’s wealthiest and highest ranking officials.

When: Saturday, October 16 & Sunday, October 17
Access: Osu Kannon Subway Station, exit 2.
Street Performers: October 16 (11:00 – 20:40) & October 17 (11:00 – 19:00).
Oiran Processions: October 16 (11:00 – 12:15, 14:00 – 15:15, 18:30 – 19:45) & October 17 (11:00 – 12:30, 14:00 – 15:15, 16:30 – 17:30).

*times subject to change

(NIC Event Information)

henri daros

GETTING TO NAGOYA (NIC INFORMATION)

■Nagoya Airfield is located approximately 20 minutes by car from the heart of the city and offers 30 domestic routes.

■Chubu International Airport is located 30 minutes to the south of the city by rail or bus services and offers flights to over 40 international destinations.

■Nagoya Port is also located 30 minutes from the city center by car or subway. It is Japan’s leading and most active harbor, seeing over 9,500 foreign and 32,900 domestic vessels in 1997.

■Nagoya Station offers rail transportation to many locations throughout Japan and is approximately a 1.5 hour trip from Tokyo on the Shinkansen bullet train, and less than an hour ride from Osaka. The Nagoya Railway (Meitetsu) and Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu) also offer access to the city’s suburbs.

■Nagoya can also be easily accessed by the Tomei (Tokyo-Nagoya) , Meishin (Nagoya-Kobe), and Higashi Meihan (Nagoya-Osaka) expressways. City transport facilities include subway and bus services as well as the city expressway routes.

 

(Nagoya International Center)

henri daros

AUTUMN FESTIVALS ACROSS NAGOYA

(NIC EVENT INFORMATION)

Fun for all the family – including flea markets, stage events, a wide variety of games and attractions, and the Nakamura samurai parade!

"koyo" - autumn leaves (photo: hiroshi katoh)

★Nishi Ward Citizen’s Festival 西区区民まつり「第30回西区民おまつり広場」
When: Sunday, October 10 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Oshikiri Koen 押切公園
Access: A 5 minute walk from Joshin Subway Station, exit 5

★Kita Ward Citizen’s Festival 北区区民まつり“きた・きた フェスタ”
When: Sunday, October 17 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Kita Ward Office 北区役所
Access: A 5 minute walk south from Kurokawa Subway Station, exit 1.

★Higashi Ward Citizen’s Festival 東区区民まつり「なごやかまつり・ひがし」
When: Sunday, October 17 (12:00 – 16:00)
Where: In & around Kenchō-ji Koen建中寺公園 (nr. Higashi Ward Office)
Access: A 5 minute walk north from Kurumamichi Subway Station, exit 1

★Midori Ward Citizen’s Festival 緑区区民まつり
When: Saturday, October 23 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Odaka Ryokuchi Koen (Green Plaza)　大高緑地公園
Access: A 10 minute walk from Meitetsu Sakyoyama Station左京山.

★Nakamura Ward Citizen’s Festival 中村区区民まつり
When: Saturday, October 23 (10:00 – 16:00)
Where: In and around Nakamura Koen中村公園
Access: A 10 minute walk from Nakamura Koen Subway Station, exit 3

★Tempaku Ward Citizen’s Festival 天白区区民まつり
When: Sunday, October 24 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Tempaku Koen天白公園
Access: A 20 minute walk from Hara Subway Station, exit 2

★Showa Ward Citizen’s Festival 昭和区区民まつり
When: Sunday, October 24 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Tsuruma Koen 鶴舞公園
Access: A 2 minute walk from JR Tsurumai Station or Tsurumai Subway Station, exit 4

★Nakagawa Ward Citizen’s Festival 中川区区民まつり
When: Sunday, October 24 (10:00 – 15:00)
Where: Tsuyuhashi Koen 露橋公園
Access: A 5 minute walk from Meitetsu Sannō Station 山王 

(Nagoya International Center)

henri daros

SEJARAH NAGOYA

HISTORY OF NAGOYA

The name Nagoya is derived from a famous manor in the 12^th century called Nagono. The Nagono manor prospered until the middle of the fourteenth century and people continued to call the area “Nagono” long after it had gone. The Chinese characters used to write “Nagono” could also be read “Nagoya” which was later adopted as the city’s name.

Kiyosu, on the outskirts of what is now Nagoya, was the ancestral home of Oda Nobunaga. Oda along with his understudy Toyotomi Hideyoshi played an important role in the unification of Japan. After a series of battles, Tokugawa Ieyasu, born just south of Nagoya, became ruler of Japan and established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603. The Shogunate ruled Japan for 250 years. The people in Nagoya are proud of the fact that these “three heroes” were from this region and they are featured elaborately in the annual Nagoya festival.

In 1610, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered that Nagoya Castle be constructed as a residence for his son. Surrounded on three sides by natural water barriers, the castle was easily defendable against attack. Tokugawa then ordered that the people of Kiyosu, along with their temples and shrines move to the area around the castle. The area around the castle soon became a thriving “castle town.” Nagoya Castle itself functioned as the home of the leading branch of the Tokugawa family for 16 generations.

Nagoya became a city in 1889 and in the same year the Nagoya Power Company started its service. Electricity was the symbol of development and Nagoya’s first streetcar, a 25-passenger model, started operation in 1898. Nagoya was the second city in Japan after Kyoto to establish such public transportation.

Most of the enterprises, for which Nagoya is noted today, were established between 1881 and 1917. Among them are: Itoh Bank (present MUFJ Bank), Aichi Basha-tetsudo (present Meitetsu), Nagoya Hotel, Okuma Machinery (present Okuma Corporation), & Nagoya Gas (present Toho Gas)

The implementation of an efficient and convenient transportation system made up of railways, ports, and canals led to the rapid development of these industries. In 1907, Nagoya Port was opened and along with the reinforcing of the connecting Shinhori River helped popularize Nagoya merchandise throughout Japan. Nagoya established itself as a modern commercial and industrial city. During World War I (1914-1918), the demand for metals, machinery, and the heavy industry continued to increase. Nagoya stepped in to meet the demands. In the 1930’s, exports from Nagoya increased remarkably, especially in heavy industries. As a result, employment in related areas such as machinery and metals boomed.

Around 1920, the automobile industry began to lay its foundations with the announcement of the “Chukyo Detroit Plan”. Five companies worked together and produced a domestic passenger car in 1932. Later this automobile industry was succeeded by the famous Toyota Motor Corporation. The airplane industry started at about the same time. Before and during World War II, Nagoya was the largest industrial center for production of military materials. More than 10,000 Zero Fighters, 60% of the national total, were manufactured here.

The central water supply system began in 1904 and by 1923, drains and sewers had been installed in the central part of the city. Four sewage plants were built between 1930 and 1934 to ensure the purity of the rivers. In the early 1900’s, the City constructed and improved the city road network. Between 1908 and 1924, five main streets were constructed. Together with the opening of the Nagoya port, rivers and waterways were also improved, bridges were built or repaired, and special consideration was given to the efficiency of water transportation.

Approximately one-fourth of Nagoya was destroyed during World War II. Almost half of the population evacuated the city and most city functions were brought to a standstill. However just 45 days after the war ended, the City Assembly approved an extensive reconstruction plan. It was to be a long and arduous assignment. This plan included everything needed for a modern city such as city streets, subways, parks, and greenery. One of the central features of the plan was the construction of two 100 meter-wide roads and nine 50 meter-wide road which would serve as the main routes for automobile transportation in a city of two million people.

In the public transportation sector, construction of a subway system linking Nagoya Station and Sakae began in 1957. Subway construction has moved along at a rapid pace over the last 40 years. In order to fulfill the responsibilities for the Tokyo Olympics, the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Nagoya to Kobe Expressway were completed in early 1964. An efficient and convenient bus network has also been set up throughout the city.

In September 1959, the most severe post-war disaster struck Nagoya. The Ise Bay typhoon struck the southern part of the city, flooding the entire area. The west bank of the Shonai River collapsed, and 1,851 residents were killed, 118,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and over 530,000 people were made homeless by the catastrophe. The city implemented a comprehensive relief effort and at the same time, received help and support from its sister-city, Los Angeles, and many other cities both in Japan and overseas. In order to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster, the city has taken extensive measures to improve the breakwaters in the port area, and to strengthen and heighten the embankments along the rivers in the city.

(Nagoya International Center)

henri daros

KOKUSEI-CHOUSA: SENSUS PENDUDUK 2010

JAPAN: 2010 NATIONAL POPULATION CENSUS

Sejak tanggal 1 Oktober 2010, secara serempak diadakan Sensus Penduduk (Kokusei-Chousa) di seluruh Jepang. Survei statistik ini dilaksanakan menurut undang-undang Jepang dan melibatkan semua orang yang tinggal di Jepang, apapun kebangsaannya. Siapa pun wajib menjawab atau mengisi kuesioner yang diedarkan. Tak perlu khawatir. Jawaban bersifat rahasia. Tak akan digunakan atas cara apapun untuk, misalnya, kontrol imigrasi, penyelidikan oleh polisi atau untuk tujuan-tujuan lain yang sejenis.

Sudah sejak sepekan terakhir di tangan saya memang sudah ada formulir yang harus diisi. Petugas Sensus Penduduk sudah mengedarkannya tepat waktu. Untuk Jepang seluruhnya sudah disiapkan formulir isian dalam 27 bahasa. Tinggal pilih, termasuk bahasa Indonesia. Saya bahkan langsung mendapat formulir kuesioner dalam 3 bahasa, yaitu Inggris, Jepang dan Indonesia. Namun kepada orang asing dianjurkan agar berdasarkan isian formulir dalam bahasa yang sepenuhnya dikuasai itu diisilah selanjutnya kuesioner berbahasa Jepang untuk diserahkan ke Biro Statistik Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Batas waktu pengembalian kuesioner ialah tanggal 7 Oktober. Sampai pada hari terakhir itu nanti, setiap hari petugas Sensus Penduduk akan berkeliling pada jam tertentu untuk menjemput formulir kuesioner tersebut. Namun warga dapat pula mengirimkannya baik melalui kantor pos maupun kotak pos terdekat, tanpa perangko. Pengembalian formulir yang sudah diisi akan berada di bawah kontrol keamanan yang sangat ketat agar informasi tidak bocor. Bahkan semua formulir akan langsung dimusnahkan begitu proses tabulasi berakhir. Demikian jaminan yang disampaikan.

Saya tertarik pada bunyi rumusan pertimbangan diadakannya Sensus Penduduk ini. Selain bahwa sensus penduduk kali ini merupakan sensus penduduk yang paling penting yang diadakan oleh Pemerintah Jepang guna memperoleh ‘basic data’ bagi penyusunan kebijakan, juga demi perbaikan kondisi hidup warga, termasuk warga asing yang tinggal di Jepang. Bukankah saya termasuk di antaranya?

Ketika hari ini saya membaca kembali dengan teliti kuesioner tersebut sebelum mengisinya, harus saya akui betapa benar dan relevan pernyataan tentang tekad perbaikan kondisi hidup tersebut, dalam pelbagai aspeknya, dalam wujudnya yang komprehensif. Betapa berbangga dan bersyukur segenap warga suatu negara yang pemerintahnya sungguh memperhatikan segenap aspek kehidupannya.

Pemerintah yang tidak cuma sibuk dan puas dengan mengutak-atik angka dan jumlah, tapi sungguh-sungguh menargetkan mutu dan tingkat kesejahteraan. Yang tidak hanya tunggu merumuskan kesimpulan tentang turunnya angka kemiskinan (dan itu pun dengan sengit selalu diperdebatkan oleh para pejuang pro-rakyat yang kenal betul lapangan), tapi sudah dan selalu siap untuk memperjuangkan peningkatan kesejahteraan, yang dalam skala perbandingan saja sesungguhnya sudah dinilai sejahtera. Tak cuma buat warganya sendiri tapi bagi warga asing pula!

Tentu saja, dalam segala upaya peningkatan kesejahteraan tersebut, partisipasi dan tanggung jawab warga pun sangat diperlukan, bahkan wajib adanya. Hanya dengan warga yang sungguh bertanggung jawab dan giat menjalankan kewajibannya, negara akan jadi kuat dan kokoh dalam kesejahteraan. Namun, ketika suatu hajatan nasional seperti halnya sensus penduduk dijalankan, pemerintah sedang mengukur kadar tanggung jawab, tugas dan kewajiban yang menjadi bagiannya.

Pemerintah Jepang sudah merumuskan dan menegaskan kembali dengan benar apa yang menjadi tugas, tanggung jawab dan kewajibannya itu. Dan sebagaimana sudah terbukti selama ini, kata-kata mereka bukanlah basa-basi.

Selamat ber-Sensus  Penduduk! Salam sejahtera!

henri daros