A column by Tatsuru Uchida (Professor Emeritus of Kobe College) titled “Making Agriculture a Core Industry” was published in the Tokyo Shimbun on the 6th. It raised the issue of Japan’s low food self-sufficiency rate, but it was thought-provoking.
The principle of an independent nation is to be self-sufficient in food, energy, medical care, education, and military, but Japan is collapsing in all of these areas. Medical care and education are still better, but food self-sufficiency is 38% on a calorie basis, and energy self-sufficiency is 12-13%, which is disappointing. The military is dependent on the United States due to historical reasons.
The keyword of the modern era is said to be “uncertainty.” Uncertainty is when methods that have worked in the past suddenly become unworkable, or when common sense and accepted ideas that were once considered solid suddenly dissolve.
For a long time, Japan has thought that it could get by with importing food, and this has become almost common sense. However, in an age of uncertainty, will this common sense continue into the future?
Food exporting countries have the power of life and death over Japan, and can control the Japanese government by dangling food in front of them. In the aforementioned column, it is stated that “it is not at all surprising that a major power would aim for this.”
This view is unrealistic and lacks persuasiveness at present, but in times of uncertainty, no one knows what will happen. Rather, it may be healthier to wonder how Japan, which has deviated from the principles of an independent nation, has been able to survive this long.
It seems that after the war, Japan abandoned the principles of an independent nation and grew by relying solely on economic rationality. This is truly miraculous growth, and a rare success story.
Principles are the guidepost for getting through times of uncertainty. Paradoxically, moving forward in line with principles creates stable strength.
Isn’t it time for Japan to return to its principles? In particular, with regard to primary industries and energy, sincere efforts that go beyond economic measures are necessary. It is certainly necessary to have the determination to make agriculture a core industry. (Kei Kitajima)

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