I can’t believe, as all of you can’t, that Vogel-sensei so suddenly passed away. I am sincerely grateful for his dedications to support Japan and Japanese students and researchers. It was in 1997 when I first met with Ezra as an associate of U.S.-Japan Program. And July last year, I came back to Cambridge as a fellow at the Asia Center, of which Ezra was the first director. In fact, my position there was established by him in 1999 to accommodate Akiyama-san, retired administrative vice minister of JDA. Following Mr. Akiyama, generals and admirals succeeded his position and I am the 12th fellow. Therefore, I am able to be here literally thanks to Vogel-sensei. On behalf of all my predecessors, I express wholehearted appreciation to him.
I have so many memories with Ezra that I would like to introduce you two of them. As soon as I came back to Harvard July last year, I sent Email to Ezra and he invited me to have a lunch with him at the Faculty Club. It was a buffet style lunch. Ezra ate a lot more than I did. He asked me more questions than I did to him. I was amazed by his insatiable appetite and curiosity, understanding that’s the magic of his longevity and vitality. He asked me how I see Koizumi Shinichiro and Kono Taro for whom Vogel sensei rooted. I asked him who the Democrat candidate will be and he answered Joe Biden and possibly with vice president Kamara Harris. He gladly told me that he and Professor Graham Alison will jointly develop a policy paper for the new President regarding how to manage U.S.-China relationship. It was 17 months ago.
After I tentatively went back to Tokyo in March, I was involved with COVID-19 task force organized by Funabashi Yoichi, director of API, which published Investigating Report based on this task force experience. Then, we happened to come across Vogel’s book, Four Little Dragon, which analyzes success of Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore for their industrialization. Coincidently, these fours are also good to contain Covid-19 and Ezra’s observation gave us very useful insight and perspectives to cope with new virus. He didn’t know this episode, because I thought I would have had a chance to see him as we promised to meet again. I really missed him.
Vogel-sensei was loved by everybody, because he loved everybody. His son, Steven said, his father had the irrepressible ability to see the good in every person and every nation. I fully agree.
I believe Vogel-sensei is interviewing Deng Xiaoping, Tanaka Kakuei, Richard Nixon and many more who made history.
So, I express my heartfelt appreciation to Vogel-sensei and wish him rest in peace.