PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Akira Banzai, President of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu)
Katsuyuki Haranaka、President of the Japan Medical Association

The speech and Q&A will be in Japanese with English interpretation

Despite the prospects of higher economic growth advanced by proponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, two of Japan's industries – the agricultural and the medical sectors – are resisting joining the pact.

Japanese farmers, many of them associated with the nation's largest farm lobby, JA-Zenchu, are concerned that big businesses from the US and other countries will threaten their family farming operations and put Japanese consumers at risk by exporting genetically modified (GM) food.

The Japan Medical Association, representing some 166,000 doctors and physicians across Japan, is worried that poorly supervised liberalization in their field could jeopardize Japanese people's well-being and put an end to Japan's supremacy in the field of the average life expectancy for both men and women.

While Japan's government believes it must seize this opportunity to modernize the Japanese economy and farm sector to keep pace with the rest of the world, and consumers may benefit from reduced food costs and more effective medications, opinion in Japan remains divided on trade liberalization.

The agricultural and medical lobbies stand at the forefront of anti-TPP sentiment and are keen to garner public support for their positions to counter the momentum for change being generated by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his allies in Japan's export manufacturing sector.

Akira Banzai, 66, assumed the presidency of JA-Zenchu in August and has vowed to take up the fight against the TPP on behalf of the group's 9 million members and employees.

Katsuyuki Haranaka, 71, was elected president of the powerful medical association in 2010 by capitalizing on his close ties with the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. But he and the association now find themselves in opposition to the DPJ's pursuit of trade liberalization.

Banzai and Haranaka will come to the club to give their views on why Japan should not join the U.S.-led TPP.

Menu:
Fillet of Flounder (Hirame) with Crab Meat Gratin, Carrots and Green Vegetables, Seasonal Salad

Akira Banzai, President of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu)

Katsuyuki Haranaka、President of the Japan Medical Association