Professional Luncheon,
Kotaro Tamura,
Liberal Democratic Party Upper House Member

The speech and Q & A will be in English.

"The Japan Financial Crisis And How To Tackle It"

Hailing from Tottori Prefecture, the often flamboyantly dressed MP, Kotaro Tamura (LDP, 2nd term, Upper House), will speak about his proposal for a new IMF and the need for Japan to create its own sovereign fund.

As Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office for Economic and Fiscal Policy for Financial Services, Tamura heads a group of 65 LDP lawmakers who have proposed that Japan treat the global financial meltdown as a major opportunity. They argue that Japan has approximately $950 billion in foreign reserves, $1.5 trillion in public pension funds and $15 trillion in personal financial assets. These funds should be used first to inject some cash into troubled banks in the United States and Europe in return for equity and second to purchase distressed corporate assets. Both would help buoy the global financial sector and bolster Japan's role in the world economy.

Critics note that Japan is a risk-averse country and that even positive risk, such as that proposed by Tamura, is studiously avoided. This, according to Tamura, makes Japan and Japanese banks look like "chickens" because they appear too cowardly to participate fully in international financial markets. The Japanese financial sector's relative strength today is due to its risk-averse nature rather than to shrewd strategy.

Tamura has a broad academic background with a BA from Waseda and an MBA from Keio Graduate School of Business amongst other qualifications from Duke Law School, Yale's Graduate School of International & Development Economics, Oxford's Templeton College and Tufts' Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. He has work experience in M&A at Yamaichi Securities; as the chief editor and director of the Nihonkai Newspaper; and CEO and president of the Osaka Daily News.

Come and hear what promises to be a lively and provocative speech by one of Japan's most colorful and well-rounded politicians.

Sandwich Plate: Roast beef, fried onion & lettuce on campagne with horseradish mayonnaise.
Hot Plate: Tandoori salmon, mango chutney & yogurt raita with vegetables, steamed rice, seasonal salad & bread.

Kotaro Tamura