LESSON LEARNED FROM INVITATION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MUSLIM INTELLECTUALS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

LESSON LEARNED
FROM INVITATION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MUSLIM INTELLECTUALS
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Learning from Japan’s Modernization: A Case Study of Modernization Experienced by non-Western Country

By Bambang Suryadi

As clearly stated in the guideline book, the main objective of this program is to deepen understanding about Japan among Muslim intellectuals, which will contribute to a better relationship with the Southeast Asian countries in the long run. The program was also aimed at contributing to the creation of a mutual network of Muslim academics not only between Japan and Southeast Asian countries, but also among Southeast Asian countries themselves.

Through this program the Japan Foundation would like to provide promising Muslim intellectuals with opportunities to learn about Japan’s experience of modernization which is different from that of Western countries, and to think about their societies, which also aim at realizing harmonious modernization in their societies.

To achieve the above mentioned objectives, seven persons were invited to participate in this program. They were representing Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. Five persons were from Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, Indonesia, namely, Euis Nurlaelawati from the Faculty of Sharia and Law, Sukron Kamil from the Faculty of Adab and Humanity, Ikhsan Ibrahim from the Post Graduate School, Eva Nugraha from the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, and Bambang Suryadi from the Faculty of Psychology. Malaysian representative was Yusri Mohamad from the Faculty of Law, International Islamic University Malaysia and Hanie A. Bud from the Department of Islamic Studies, Mindanao State University Philippines.

Prior to the program, I had several questions in my mind. Among of these questions were as follows:
1. What is the key factor of Japan’s modernization?
2. What is the role of religion (Shinto and Buddhism) in Japan’s modernization?
3. What is Japanese’s attitude toward other religions?
4. What is the relationship between religion and state?
5. How are the cultures, arts, and traditions preserved in Japan?
6. What is the moral values and message behind the practice of tea ceremony?
7. What are the effects of modernization on muslim countries?
8. How muslims live in Japan and how do Japanese people treat them as minority?
9. How should muslim people react toward modernization?
10. How to maintain Japan-muslim countries relationship in Southeast Asia?
11. What are the lessons learned from the 10-day invitation program in Japan?

The 10-day invitation program started from November 4 to November 13, 2009 was scheduled with a combination of lecture, sight visit, discussion, and dialogue held in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, and Hiroshima.

Of all the lectures, two were very important and impressive to me, namely the lecture on Meiji Regeneration by Prof Hiroshi Mitani of Tokyo University and the lecture on Japan’s High Economic Growth: Its Lights and Shadows was delivered by Prof. David Flath of Osaka University. The former gives the participants with clear picture of historical background for Japan’s modernization. The latter, on the other hand, was very inspiring for other countries to develop their economic.

As for Japanese culture and tradition, tea ceremony and visit to Hiroshima were significantly impressive. It is all about local tradition, moral values, norms, global peace and harmony.

Overall, the program was well designed, well organized, and well implemented. In other words, the combination of lecture and site visit was really fruitful in giving insights and broadening horizon for the participants, in general and in answering the above-mentioned questions, in particular. Although certain answers need further elaboration. In the following part, I try to point out certain aspects and lesson learned from the invitation program.

It a widely accepted idea that history is the mother of knowledge. Therefore, the lecture on the history of Meiji Regeneration: the Formation of Public Sphere in Modern Japan really opened our mind to the Japanese reform which leads to present modernization. Visit to National Museum of Nature and Science and listening to the lecture of Japan Scientific Technological Development after Meiji Regeneration by Prof. Kazuyoshi Suzuki, were indeed, supplementary insight for the lecture by Prof. Mitani. In other words, a combination of lecture and site visit is an integral part of the program.

Referring to the question concerning the key factor of Japan’s modernization as mentioned above, according to Prof. Hiroshi Mitani, Meiji regeneration is not affected by Western country. The present modernization is purely the effect of Meiji regeneration. During the Meiji regeneration, political reform was made and this greatly contributed to Japan’s modernization. Similarly, Prof. Suzuki said that Meiji Regeneration is regarded as the starting point of Japan’s modernization.

Another factor of Japan’s modernization is the sense of curiosity among Japanese people. Japanese people are very curious and show favorable attitude toward learning knowledge. Knowledge and sciences are their weapon. This short of attitude is proven by translating certain books published in the West to Japanese language. As one of the professors said during informal conversation when there is a book published in the West and Japanese people feel it is important to know, two or three weeks later the book has been translated into Japanese language.

The Concept of Monodzukuri (the making of things) provided the participants clear message that modernization in Japan is created to maintain the nature. “Technology is created for human beings. Human beings are coexistence with nature. Therefore technology must be nature friendly”, Prof. Suzuki said when he guided the participants touring the National Museum of Nature and Science .

The concept of monodzukuri makes Japan famous with its high technology in saving energy and preserving the nature. In Kyoto, for instance, we found a tree of 350 years old and still exists to the present. Green Program Service in Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka Tokyo is another evidence of protecting environment and saving energy. As mention in the short notice from the hotel management, a guest staying for more than two nights deserves 1.000 yen coupon if he or she feels unnecessary to have his/her room cleaned and linen. Similarly, promoting riding bicycle to the work place is a part of protecting the nature.

The role of religion (Shinto and Buddhism) as well as the role of Bushido in Japan’s modernization was clearly presented in International Research for Japanese Studies. This was done by listening to lectures about Understanding Japanese Modernization from the Spiritual Aspects Focusing on Bushido by Prof. Kazuhiko of International Research Center for Japanese Studies, and Religion in Modern Japan by Prof. Fumihiko Sueki of International Research for Japanese Studies.

From the lecture, it is clear that he main religions practiced in Japan are Shinto,which is the country’s native religion, and Buddhism, which was introduced in the sixth century from China. A jinja (shrine) is a Shinto structure, while a tera (temple) is Buddhist.

Japan is said to be a Buddhist country, but most of the Japanese people also believe in Shinto, which is so-called the original religion of Japan. In other words, Japanese people have two different religions at the same time. Most Japanese have a tolerant attitude toward other religions as long as they are not too extreme.

To have better understanding of the two religions, participants were taken to sightseeing of temples and shrines. Daisen-in temple in Kyoto is one the most impressive place for its sand and rock surrounding the temple. “The rock is symbol of devil and sin, while the sand is symbol of innocent and clean”, the monk said and he told the participants that there are twenty three temples in this area.

In addition, the participants were given opportunity to explore the temples in Kyoto as they got to know how actually people observe the religious practice in the past and present. Visit to Kobe mosque and Tokyo mosque and dialogue with its imam is useful information on the presence of Muslim society in Japan. From the dialogue, it is clear that Japanese people are very tolerant toward other religions as long as not too extreme. “We can perform idul fitri prayer with the support of Japan government”, said Imam adding that the road was blocked during the prayer to give more space for Muslim to perform prayer. This is very clear evidence that Muslim can live in peace and harmony in non Muslim country. As a consequency, Muslims also should show good conduct and behavior toward non Muslim people where they live.

In addition to being tolerant to other religion, Japanese people do not really bother about religion. One example as mentioned by Naoko Uguruma, translator of the program, is when school students were asked to fill in the particular detail about religion, most of them write “not particular”. In addition, religious subjects are not taught in school curriculum. The question is then, what is the means and ways used to inculcate the moral values? It is done through conditioning in school life and daily life.

Visit to Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution in Kobe and Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima provided important knowledge and information on earthquake and tragedy of Hiroshima. The former gives us on how to anticipate the natural disaster (earthquake) as so we can prepare ourselves if the earthquake happens. The later, on the other hand, gives us the message to show our empathic to the victims of atomic bomb and to keep peace and harmony for better life of human beings. This message is clearly stated in the Children’s Peace Monument. It reads “This is our cry. This is our prayer. For building peace in this world”.

Japan is the second largest economic development in the world. Clear information on Japan’s High Economic Growth: Its Lights and Shadows was delivered by Prof. David Flath of Osaka University. When Japan was isolated from the other countries in the world, Japan was not economically weak and was not good in technology. But Japan was able to grow up its economy and technology. Automotive manufacturers are considered as a clear evidence of technology advancement. “There are eight automotive manufacturers in Japan and each manufacturer has its own market not only inside the country but also outside the country”, said Prof. David. He also said that free market and not government direction are most responsible for Japan’s high growth.

Learning one country would not be perfect without knowing its culture and tradition. For this reason, the participants were given opportunity to experience tea ceremony in the Northen part of Kyoto. The tea ceremony was hosted by Prof. Toru Ota and Dr. Kanako Mahasaki. The essence of tea ceremony is an art. Even though it is also full of moral values such as hospitality, sincerity, honesty, patience, respect, togetherness, and so on. It is understood, that not all young generation of Japan are well-versed in tea ceremony. However, there is tendency among old generation to learn and practice tea ceremony as an attempt to make them feel relaxed and fresh after work at the office (The Japan Times, November 9, 2009).

Explanation about higher educational system was introduced by Prof. Tatsuo Hatta, President of Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), while information on foreign policy was given by Kenjiro Monji Director General, Public Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dialogue during the dinner with Prof. Kazuo Ogoura the President of the Japan Foundation was golden opportunity for the participants to share their knowledge and experiences about the Islamic movement in the world in general, and in Shoutheast Asian countries, in particular. From this dialogue, the President delivered clear message that Southeast Asian countries are the potential asset for Japan to build up mutual understanding.

To sum up, there are many aspects that Muslim can learn from Japan’s modernization. The important one is that Islam does not oppose to modernization in sense of technology. In other words, when technology is defined as inventing technology, there is no dispute or objection from Muslim people. For instance, the use of computers and hand phone in daily life. But caution should be made when modernization is understood in term of morality and life style. In this context, Muslims can take whatever appropriate and leave whatever inappropriate for them without showing too extreme attitude. This is because Islam came to this world also brought the message of modernity. Therefore, we as citizen of the world, must be able to think globally and act locally by maintaining our own cultures and traditions.
Since this year program is just the beginning and there will be two other programs, I suggest the following things:
1. To invite participants from Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand in addition to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. They have to write a short paper about Islam and modernization in their respective country and present it during the program.
2. To have dialogue with Japanese young generation or university students as means and ways of sharing ideas and experiences.
3. To visit one or two manufacturers such as Toyota Automotive manufacturer as supplementary to lecture of Japan’s technology.
4. To organize follow-up activities such as symposium, seminar, and research involving the participants.
5. To set up young Muslim intellectual association in Southeast Asia under patronage from the Japan Foundation.

Last but not least, I take this opportunity to express my highest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the Japan Foundation especially Ogawa-san, Tanaka-san, and Hashimoto-san for their effort, dedication, hard work, and support in making this program a success.