Anyone familiar with Japanese politics would know that MP Taro Kono never shies away from swimming against the tide, whenever needed. This Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member has famously opposed the government nuclear policy, plans for nuclear fuel and building new stations. He also supports an amendment of the Japanese Constitution, which allows the self-defense forces to engage in warfare and "conflicts with the official position" on the issue of US Marine Corps Air Station in the Okinawan City of Futenma. In fact, so different are his views that the Wall Street Journal labelled him a "LDP Rebel with a Cause" in a profile piece about him published in 2011.
There is also another aspect to this politician. By Japanese standards, he is uniquely internationally-minded. Despite a long history of tensions with South Korea, he was the only lawmaker in his country to have had a Korean version on his official website. Korean interns regularly work with him and he maintains interesting views on the future of relations with both Korea and China.
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MP Taro Kono (Reuters)
More interestingly, Kono has a deep-rooted and genuine interest in Middle Eastern affairs. When I visited his office at the Japanese Parliament last year, I was fascinated to see that he possesses more books about the Arab world than I do. He almost always has an intern working at his office who hails from the Middle East, and speaks Arabic. He has visited a number of Arab countries including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Currently, a senior Saudi delegation, led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is in Tokyo as part of a high-profile Asian tour, which will conclude next week at the G20 Conference in China. The delegation has signed MoUs, business deals and has been engaging in cultural diplomacy activities in a bid to strengthen the Kingdom's alliances in the East.
MP Taro Kono is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is also the country's defense minister and the architect of Vision 2030; an ambitious reform plan which aims to balance the kingdom's financial sheets, end the reliance on oil by diversifying the economy, open-up the country and improve the standards of living of Saudi citizens.
Mr. Kono has agreed to answer a few questions via email prior to his meeting with Prince Mohammad. Having been the chief cost-cutter for Japan's national budget for over a decade, and a Minister for Administrative Reform, the meeting with Prince Mohammad is expected to be fruitful, considering that Mr. Kono says that he understands how hard Riyadh is trying to transform its role and streamline the budget.
"We hope to share our experience and work together," he says. Contrary to the mainstream political views in Japan, Mr. Kono believes that his country should take in Syrian refugees and be "more politically involved in the Middle Eastern affairs."
Furthermore, Mr. Kono (who has served as Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission under current PM Abe) believes Japan and Saudi Arabia can cooperate in areas such as combatting terrorism, particularly given the Japanese security emphasis in the build up to the 2020 Olympics, which his country will host.
This, of course, goes hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia leadership of the Riyadh-based coalition of more than 30 countries called the Islamic Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IAFT), which Prince Mohammad oversaw the formation of, with the objective to defeat international violent extremism militarily, ideologically, financially and electronically.
WATCH: MP Taro Kono, Al Arabiya English's Faisal J. Abbas and Jordan's Bassem Awadallah discuss future of Middle East at Tokyo's G1 Conference in 2015:
Complete transcript of the interview:
- Al Arabiya English: In Dec
There is also another aspect to this politician. By Japanese standards, he is uniquely internationally-minded. Despite a long history of tensions with South Korea, he was the only lawmaker in his country to have had a Korean version on his official website. Korean interns regularly work with him and he maintains interesting views on the future of relations with both Korea and China.
More interestingly, Kono has a deep-rooted and genuine interest in Middle Eastern affairs. When I visited his office at the Japanese Parliament last year, I was fascinated to see that he possesses more books about the Arab world than I do. He almost always has an intern working at his office who hails from the Middle East, and speaks Arabic. He has visited a number of Arab countries including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Currently, a senior Saudi delegation, led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is in Tokyo as part of a high-profile Asian tour, which will conclude next week at the G20 Conference in China. The delegation has signed MoUs, business deals and has been engaging in cultural diplomacy activities in a bid to strengthen the Kingdom's alliances in the East.
MP Taro Kono is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is also the country's defense minister and the architect of Vision 2030; an ambitious reform plan which aims to balance the kingdom's financial sheets, end the reliance on oil by diversifying the economy, open-up the country and improve the standards of living of Saudi citizens.
Mr. Kono has agreed to answer a few questions via email prior to his meeting with Prince Mohammad. Having been the chief cost-cutter for Japan's national budget for over a decade, and a Minister for Administrative Reform, the meeting with Prince Mohammad is expected to be fruitful, considering that Mr. Kono says that he understands how hard Riyadh is trying to transform its role and streamline the budget.
"We hope to share our experience and work together," he says. Contrary to the mainstream political views in Japan, Mr. Kono believes that his country should take in Syrian refugees and be "more politically involved in the Middle Eastern affairs."
Furthermore, Mr. Kono (who has served as Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission under current PM Abe) believes Japan and Saudi Arabia can cooperate in areas such as combatting terrorism, particularly given the Japanese security emphasis in the build up to the 2020 Olympics, which his country will host.
This, of course, goes hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia leadership of the Riyadh-based coalition of more than 30 countries called the Islamic Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IAFT), which Prince Mohammad oversaw the formation of, with the objective to defeat international violent extremism militarily, ideologically, financially and electronically.
Complete transcript of the interview:
- Al Arabiya English: In Dec