Bioethics and the Impact of Human Genome Research in the 21st Century

9.2. Welcoming Address
pp. 157-158 in Bioethics and the Impact of Human Genome Research in the 21st Century

Author: Michio Okamoto (Director, Japanese branch, Universal Movement for Scientific Responsibility)

Editors: Norio Fujiki, Masakatu Sudo, and Darryl R. J. Macer
Eubios Ethics Institute

Copyright 2001, Eubios Ethics Institute All commercial rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced for limited educational or academic use, however please enquire with the author.

I would like to welcome you all here this evening. I'd like to talk a little about our sponsors, the "Kagaku no sekinin kyoukai". This is the Japanese translation of the French "Mouvement Universale de la Responsibilite a la Scientifique", abbreviated to MURS. While science has certainly brought great convenience to our lives, on the other hand the scientific discovery of nuclear fission led to the atom bomb, and molecular biological research on the human genome has raised various problems, for example the legal, social, and ethical issues that will be discussed here from tomorrow, that require our deliberation. We cannot rejoice uncritically at the advances of science. Rather it is to be hoped that scientists will view debate on such problems as their responsibility, and in the pursuit of truth explain science and technology to the peoples of the world in understandable terms, educating the general public as to how these two will influence the societies in which we live. This point of view has been advocated by the French Nobel Prize-winning Professor Jean Dausset, and since the establishment of the Japanese branch of our organization in 1993, as branch head I have participated in successive Fukui International Bioethics Seminars. Professor Sperry, who has carried out research on the right and left brain, has viewed with concern recent developments in science, and held a meeting in the town of Trieste in northern Italy at which he sounded a warning concerning the responsibilities borne by scientists.

I am very pleased that we can hold the 7^th International Bioethics Seminar in Fukui, and hold these public lectures. I would like to continue by briefly introducing myself. For a number of years I was a professor of anatomy at Kyoto University, pursuing research on the cerebrum. Later I worked on problems in education oin the Cabinet Council on Science and Technology. 15 years ago an extraordinary advisory council on education on which I served was established under Prime Minister Nakasone, and centering our discussions on a common, first-stage reform, we debated how to remedy the defects in our education system. Our deliberations took as their theme "Is Japanese education satisfactory?", and proceeded in parallel with those of the advisory council on administrative reform under its chairman Dokou. However, I regret to admit that our efforts were not well-received, perhaps because of a lack of concrete results, and at present I am working on a book "What should be done about Education in Japan?" based on my reflections on these problems.

Today bioethical issues have become extremely important, and to contribute both in some small way to this seminar, and also to the enlightenment of the public in general, we welcome today three distinguished speakers, the Reverend Kimura, vice-superintendent of Eiheji temple, Dr. Tetsuya Fujita, the head of the Kyoto Pasteur Medical Center, and Professor Yukio Yamori of Kyoto University Graduate School of Human Environmental Science, who will be speaking respectively on the subjects of religious-mindedness, having a strong morality, and finally the achievement of longevity.

Reverend Kimura will talk about religious sentiment based on the teachings of the Zen master Dogen, expounding the path to self-knowledge that is the path of the spirit, and that comes from the idea also expressed by Einstein that the universe has a center, a focus, that is God, the eight foundations of the spirit received during Zen training, passed down in an unbroken line from the Buddha, through Dogen, down to the Reverend Kimura.

Dr. Fujita will explain how, while in the words of Kant people at their time of birth are just like puppies, from that instant onwards the process of social interaction of human with human, first mother with child and then over a long period the development of conversation with, and actions towards others leading to the holding of firm convictions, together with the development of the cerebral cortex becomes the source and origin of morality. I strongly recommend that you read his book, " The Brain's 3.5 Billion Years" (Iwanami Books).

Professor Yamori is the director of the WHO research center, and has become well known as a pathologist through his work on genetic and environmental factors using research on experimental hypertensive mice and dietary surveys in various regions around the globe over many years. He has explained this kind of research in easily understandable terms in his frequent appearances on the Japanese national broadcasting service, the NHK. Out of this valuable experience of overseas investigation, through his work in nutritional research etc. in 609 countries over 25 years he has come to take practical action for not simply living a long time, but for enjoying longevity.

Through these lectures we will be able to learn about the spirit and religion, the development of the brain and morality, and what people should eat to enjoy longevity and be able to share the joy of a respected old-age.

Well then, finally my thoughts at present can be summed up I think in the words held in reverence by Dr. Michitaro Tanaka, " Do your filial duty". Professor Norio Fujisawa also takes up the theme of filial piety in his discussion of Plato. In the coming "Age of the Spirit" we must I believe learn about these basic ways of thinking about people, communities and the state. The other day we saw a dream in which Descartes, Adam Smith and Yukichi Fukuzawa appeared as spirits, and on a Noh stage discussed their own individual thinking with their great masterpieces on morality, national wealth and learning in hand. Reading thoroughly the original works of these pioneers and understanding sufficiently what is written there is one of my articles of faith, and I would like to close my welcoming address by encouraging you to do likewise.

Please send comments to Email < asianbioethics@yahoo.co.nz >.
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