Personal Statement

              I applied for Master programme in Conflict Resolution at University of Bradford , England to gain the educational background I need to be engaged in community services as a field officer of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations or humanitarian NGOs to empower refugees in Africa , Middle-East and Asia . And as my ultimate objective, I would like to work as a peace-building specialist to help victims of wars and conflicts, and achieve more permanent peace and stability tackling structural vulnerability in developing countries.　

              One of the reasons why I decided to apply for the Bradford program was the experiences at Nichi Bei Times, which is the oldest Japanese American paper in Northern California . In 2001, there was the 50th commemoration of San Francisco Peace Treaty. And in exact timing with it, the vigorous waves of protest among Chinese, Korean, American veterans, and even Japanese Americans were incited in the city. I was in charge of featuring them and deeply shocked to learn terrible massacres and the facts that I did not learn at school.

              I interviewed survivors of massacres, military forced laborers, sex slaves and racially repressed silent majorities, and I realized Japan inexcusably violated unconfirmed number of innocent lives during the aggressive war. However the Treaty, with great powers’ political motives, obscured the responsibilities of reparation, and in contrast to Germany , this ad hoc postwar reconstruction seemed to be offenses against humanity. Regrettably, Ministry of Foreign Affairs including Japanese Ambassador to the US only explained the justification of the Treaty to my interviews, and the honorary chairman of the commemoration, former Secretary of State George Shultz terminated my interview without any reason. Being born as Japanese, I strongly felt the responsibility and made up my mind that I would make a commitment for world peace.

              The reason why I aimed to be a journalist was a vague yearning for justice that I could change the world better. However the matter of the fact was that news media could be greatly influenced by current fashions, authorities, sponsors and ratings, and some media unethically controlled audience with some sort of information manipulation. So I tried to cover stories as faithfully as possible and cover vulnerable groups whose voices were seldom reported on major media.

              In the year 2000, about 600 Japanese decent gathered in San Francisco from all over the world, and they initiated diverse dialogues about the direction of their community in the 21st century. Although it is still not taught appropriately at school in Japan , Japanese Americans were forced to be kept in concentration camps because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor , and some are still suffering form discriminations. I especially tried to bridge the gap between Japanese and foreign nationals of Japanese ancestry, and I hoped my stories could heal wounds even a little. Later, Nichi Bei Times entered my features as the representative for Overseas Japanese Press Association contest. They did not get a prize, but some Japanese American leaders praised me saying that there was still one young Japanese man who did not abandon them.

              Now, taking Japan as an example, I wonder if people feel war could be allowed as a means of settling disputes. According to a survey, about half of public opinion approved the dispatch of Japan Self-Defense Forces to Iraq in the name of reconstruction. When I was a child, I suffered from childhood asthma, and that made me to think about death at a close distance. For that reason alone, I could not justify wars which would only bring the circle of violence, and I have believed that nothing is more precious than a life.

              In San Francisco , people with various roots gather on the basis of liberalism and equality, and they were tackling challenges to overcome differences. Even in the midst of terrorists’ attacks, many citizens had community-based dialogues between cultures, religions, genders and ethnicities in great account and tried to ensure trust and friendship by recalling the lessons of Japanese Americans. Although San Francisco has also negative sides, I suppose their attitudes related to the concept of “positive peace” and took a small step to realize a peaceful multi-ethnic society. 

              Finally, I am greatly honored to be selected as a 2004-06 Multiyear Ambassadorial Scholar sponsored by the Rotary Club of Suzuka West, and once again, many thanks for your time and help. With my enthusiasm and diligence, I will do my best and successfully complete my graduate study at University of Bradford .

                 Tomohiro Yamanaka