{"id":9542,"date":"2011-10-18T05:51:10","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T20:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=9542"},"modified":"2011-10-18T06:17:49","modified_gmt":"2011-10-17T21:17:49","slug":"health-and-education-ministries-seek-to-place-controls-on-research-going-on-in-tohoku-tsunami-disaster-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=9542","title":{"rendered":"Health and Education Ministries issue directive to place controls on research going on in Tohoku tsunami disaster zones"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"IN<\/a>
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Hi Blog. \u00a0This is a very interesting development that has been uncovered and discussed on the H-Japan academic public listserv (which I include in full below to show the context).<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry has issued a directive, written by the Education Ministry’s Department of Life Sciences, Bureau for the Promotion of Research, to all related research industries, universities, and tertiary-education associations regarding health surveys and research conducted within the Tohoku\u00a0disaster area.<\/p>\n

Dated May 15, 2011, a little more than two months after the tsunami, the directive (full Japanese text below) essentially tells academic researchers 1) there are “ethical guidelines” (rinri shishin<\/em>) for epidemiologists to follow, and that research guidelines must be passed by ethics committees and approved by their research institution’s head; 2) these health surveys and research must also sufficiently (juubun<\/em>) be run by the local governments (jichitai<\/em>) in the disaster areas beforehand, and afterwards the results of the research (if I’m reading this odd and rather vague sentence right) must “take into due consideration” (hairyo<\/em>) the disaster victims and the appropriate systems providing them health and welfare (better translations welcome); 3) in order to not to cause any undue stress to the disaster victims, health surveys and research must avoid repetition by “not surveying and researching in more detail than necessary”, and with sufficient understanding of the situation on the ground.<\/p>\n

Well, it might sound sensible at first read. \u00a0But given the history of lack of accurate and timely information being issued by the Japanese authorities concerning the whole Fukushima debacle<\/a>, there is another way to read this ministerial directive: \u00a01) All research must be tracked and approved by somebody above you in the research workplace, 2) All research must be tracked by the local governments and health departments before and after, and 3) All research must\u00a0not ask too many questions.<\/p>\n

The point is, in the name of “ethics”, the government is inserting veto gates into what might become research independent of the GOJ, and making sure that information tracked before and afterwards stays under central control.\u00a0 Which means, in practice, that if there are research lines or inquiries or results unpalatable to the GOJ, they might not be seen by the public.<\/p>\n

My read of this document is that this is primary-source evidence of GOJ central control over the scientific method regarding a politically-sensitive issue. \u00a0And this will control the information flow out to the world regarding the effects and aftermath of Fukushima. \u00a0Arudou Debito<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

Starts at
\n http:\/\/h-net.msu.edu\/cgi-bin\/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=h-japan&month=1110&week=b&msg=Ya11YokM43QnkEetLjpOLw&user=&pw=<\/a><\/p>\n

From: H-Japan Editor (j-edit@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU)<\/strong>
\n Editor’s Subject: H-JAPAN (E): Teaching the Crisis: some reflections<\/strong>
\n Author’s Subject: H-JAPAN (E): Teaching the Crisis: some reflections<\/strong>
\n Date Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

H-JAPAN (E)<\/strong>
\n October 9, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

From: JFMorris (jfmorris@mgu.ac.jp)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear List Members<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would like to thank David Slater for his open call to bring together<\/em>
\n people working on the disaster in Tohoku.<\/em><\/p>\n

However, reading his proposal, I cannot help but feel a certain disquiet<\/em>
\n about it. I think that this stems most directly from the fact that I<\/em>
\n cannot find Tohoku involved in this proposal in any but a passive way. If<\/em>
\n you want to reflect the voices of people from Tohoku, then why not get us<\/em>
\n involved from the outset? Tohoku University had set up one of the major<\/em>
\n world class interdiscipinary research projects on natural disasters some<\/em>
\n years before this current disaster (we all knew that a big one was coming,<\/em>
\n and were already gearing up for it): outside of Tohoku University,<\/em>
\n numerous scholars within Tohoku are involved in dealing with it a<\/em>
\n multitude of ways. One thing that has really bugged me watching reporting<\/em>
\n on this disaster unfold is that we of Tohoku are there to be talked about,<\/em>
\n but not to be seriously allowed to go much beyond eyewitness accounts, the<\/em>
\n more heart-rending the better. If you want to deal with topics such as<\/em>
\n trying to reframe Tohoku history (this requires you to reframe crucial<\/em>
\n junctures of “Japanese” history…), interdisciplinary approaches to<\/em>
\n studying disasters, experiences learnt from this disaster, then there is a<\/em>
\n wealth of academic experience here. Is the problem that the overwhelming<\/em>
\n portion of this is available in Japanese? This list was originally set up<\/em>
\n with the high ideal of bringing Japanese and non-Japanese scholars<\/em>
\n together in a truly bilingual list, where posting in 2 languages was meant<\/em>
\n to be the norm… How many years is it since I saw anything on this list<\/em>
\n written in Japanese, let alone any other language?<\/em><\/p>\n

While on my high horse, I would like to add a little word of caution about<\/em>
\n barging in and doing research here. I am as much aware of the need to do<\/em>
\n this as anyone else. As IKEDA Ken’ichi pointed out in his posting of 3rd<\/em>
\n October, (1) Japan does have ethical standards to be maintained in<\/em>
\n conducting research, and (2) the Ministry of Education and Science has put<\/em>
\n out effectively a blanket ban on doing research unless this is specifically<\/em>
\n at the request of the local government of the relevant area: there are that<\/em>
\n many people crawling through this area that this kind of restriction is<\/em>
\n necessary (well, up to a point…).<\/em><\/p>\n

I do not want to start a flame; that is furthest from my intention. From<\/em>
\n his postings to this net, I am seriously impressed with David’s commitment<\/em>
\n to acting both as a rank and file member of humanity, and as an academic,<\/em>
\n to reacting in a constructive way to this disaster. However, if you want<\/em>
\n to start some kind of a summing up, if you leave the major research<\/em>
\n centres of the region out, then I think that you are going to miss<\/em>
\n something very important. If I have misconstrued David’s posting, then I<\/em>
\n apologise in advance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Faithfully,<\/strong>
\n John Morris<\/strong>
\n Miyagi Gakuin Women’s University<\/strong><\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

From: H-Japan Editor (j-edit@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU)<\/strong>
\n Date: 12 October, 2011<\/strong>
\n Subject: H-JAPAN (E): Research ban?<\/strong>
\n Reply-To: H-NET\/KIAPS List for Japanese History<\/strong><\/p>\n

On-line editor: Janet R. Goodwin (jan@cs.csustan.edu)<\/strong><\/p>\n

H-JAPAN (E)<\/strong>
\n October 12, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

From: gsjohnson@otsuma.ac.jp<\/strong><\/p>\n

From John Morris’ post appearing on October 9th :”(2) the Ministry of Education and Science has put out effectively a blanket ban on doing research unless this is specifically at the request of the local government of the relevant area: there are that many people crawling through this area that this kind of restriction is necessary (well, up to a point…).”<\/em><\/p>\n

Could you provide more information about the research ban? Is it for certain designated districts or certain research subjects? I was surprised to read of a ban because the government has been encouraging tourism as a means of economic recovery. Recently, I caught a few seconds of an NHK clip showing students taking a boat on coastline tour of a tsunami hit area and snapping away with cameras. From what little I saw, this activity was being presented as an edifying experience. I hope that researchers do not interfere with recovery. However, it seems odd that the government would allow school children to visit an area from which it banned researchers.<\/em><\/p>\n

Greg Johnson<\/strong><\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

Courtesy http:\/\/h-net.msu.edu\/cgi-bin\/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=H-Japan&month=1110&week=b&msg=hax2by\/T5mqrCNF1EGBPlg&user=&pw=<\/a><\/p>\n

From: H-Japan Editor (j-edit@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU)<\/strong>
\nAuthor’s Subject: H-JAPAN (E\/J): Ban on Research?<\/strong>
\n Date Written: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22<\/strong>
\nOn-line editor: Janet R. Goodwin<\/strong><\/p>\n

H-JAPAN (E\/J)<\/strong>
\n October 12, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

From: J.F.Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Greg and List Members,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The directive issued jointly by the Ministry of Education and Science and is as<\/em>
\n follows. Please note that to display the rest of this mail on your screen, you<\/em>
\n will have to set your “View” settings to display in either Japanese or<\/em>
\n Universal font. It is not a total ban, but a very limiting one.<\/em><\/p>\n

John Morris<\/strong>
\n Miyagi Gakuin<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.mhlw.go.jp\/seisakunitsuite\/bunya\/hokabunya\/kenkyujigyou\/hisaichi\/jimurenraku.html<\/a><\/p>\n

\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u3067\u5b9f\u65bd\u3055\u308c\u308b\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066
\n\u4e8b\u52d9\u9023\u7d61<\/p>\n

\u5e73\u621023\u5e745\u670816\u65e5<\/p>\n

\u95a2\u4fc2\u8a66\u9a13\u7814\u7a76\u6a5f\u95a2<\/p>\n

\u5927\u5b66\u7b49\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u5fa1\u4e2d<\/p>\n

\u95a2\u4fc2\u5b66\u5354\u4f1a<\/p>\n

\u6587\u90e8\u79d1\u5b66\u7701\u7814\u7a76\u632f\u8208\u5c40\u30e9\u30a4\u30d5\u30b5\u30a4\u30a8\u30f3\u30b9\u8ab2<\/p>\n

\u539a\u751f\u52b4\u50cd\u7701\u5927\u81e3\u5b98\u623f\u539a\u751f\u79d1\u5b66\u8ab2<\/p>\n

\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u3067\u5b9f\u65bd\u3055\u308c\u308b\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066
\n\u4eca\u822c\u306e\u6771\u65e5\u672c\u5927\u9707\u707d\u306b\u3088\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u57df\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u3001\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u306b\u5bfe\u3059\u308b\u69d8\u3005\u306a\u5065\u5eb7\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u304c\u5b9f\u65bd\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u304c\u3001\u3053\u308c\u3089\u306e\u5065\u5eb7\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306e\u4e2d\u306b\u306f\u3001\u502b\u7406\u7684\u914d\u616e\u3092\u6b20\u304d\u3001\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u306b\u3068\u3063\u3066\u5927\u304d\u306a\u8ca0\u62c5\u3068\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3082\u306e\u3001\u81ea\u6cbb\u4f53\u3068\u306e\u8abf\u6574\u304c\u5341\u5206\u56f3\u3089\u308c\u3066\u3044\u306a\u3044\u3082\u306e\u7b49\u304c\u898b\u53d7\u3051\u3089\u308c\u3001\u95a2\u4fc2\u5b66\u4f1a\u7b49\u304b\u3089\u3082\u554f\u984c\u63d0\u8d77\u304c\u306a\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3068\u3053\u308d\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n

\u3064\u3044\u3066\u306f\u3001\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u306b\u304a\u3051\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u3092\u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u3057\u305f\u5065\u5eb7\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u3092\u5b9f\u65bd\u3059\u308b\u5834\u5408\u306b\u306f\u3001\u4e0b\u8a18\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u9075\u5b88\u3055\u308c\u308b\u3088\u3046\u7559\u610f\u3055\u308c\u305f\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n

\u8a18<\/p>\n

\uff11\u3000\u300c\u75ab\u5b66\u7814\u7a76\u306b\u95a2\u3059\u308b\u502b\u7406\u6307\u91dd\uff08\u4ee5\u4e0b\u3001\u75ab\u5b66\u6307\u91dd\uff09\u300d\u304c\u9069\u7528\u3055\u308c\u308b\u75ab\u5b66\u7814\u7a76\u3092\u5b9f\u65bd\u3059\u308b\u5834\u5408\u7b49\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u306f\u3001\u75ab\u5b66\u6307\u91dd\u7b49\u306b\u306e\u3063\u3068\u308a\u3001\u5f53\u8a72\u7814\u7a76\u8a08\u753b\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3001\u502b\u7406\u5be9\u67fb\u59d4\u54e1\u4f1a\u306e\u5be9\u67fb\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u3001\u7814\u7a76\u6a5f\u95a2\u306e\u9577\u306b\u3088\u308b\u8a31\u53ef\u3092\u5f97\u308b\u306a\u3069\u3001\u9069\u5207\u306a\u5bfe\u5fdc\u3092\u884c\u3046\u3053\u3068\u3002<\/p>\n

\uff12\u3000\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u3092\u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u3059\u308b\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306f\u3001\u5f53\u8a72\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u306e\u81ea\u6cbb\u4f53\u3068\u5341\u5206\u8abf\u6574\u3057\u305f\u4e0a\u3067\u5b9f\u65bd\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3002\u307e\u305f\u3001\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306e\u7d50\u679c\u3001\u5fc5\u8981\u3068\u8003\u3048\u3089\u308c\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u306b\u306f\u3001\u9069\u5207\u306a\u4fdd\u5065\u533b\u7642\u798f\u7949\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u304c\u63d0\u4f9b\u3055\u308c\u308b\u4f53\u5236\u3092\u6574\u5099\u3059\u308b\u7b49\u914d\u616e\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3002<\/p>\n

\uff13\u3000\u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u306a\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u306b\u904e\u5ea6\u306a\u8ca0\u62c5\u3068\u306a\u3089\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3046\u3001\u5bfe\u8c61\u5730\u57df\u306b\u304a\u3044\u3066\u884c\u308f\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u306e\u72b6\u6cc1\u3092\u5341\u5206\u306b\u628a\u63e1\u3057\u305f\u4e0a\u3067\u3001\u91cd\u8907\u3092\u907f\u3051\u3001\u5fc5\u8981\u4ee5\u4e0a\u306b\u8a73\u7d30\u306a\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76\u304c\u884c\u308f\u308c\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306e\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3046\u306b\u914d\u616e\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3002<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

From: j-edit@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU<\/strong>
\n Date: 13 October, 2011<\/strong>
\n To: H-JAPAN@H-NET.MSU.EDU<\/strong>
\n Subject: Re H-JAPAN (E\/J): Ban on research?<\/strong><\/p>\n

—————————- Original Message —————————-<\/strong><\/p>\n

On-line editor: Janet R. Goodwin<\/strong><\/p>\n

H-JAPAN (E\/J)<\/strong>
\n October 13, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

From: gsjohnson@otsuma.ac.jp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks. So the Health Ministry is restricting research on human subjects,<\/em><\/p>\n

\u3000\u88ab\u707d\u5730\u306b\u304a\u3051\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u3092\u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u3057\u305f\u5065\u5eb7\u8abf\u67fb\u30fb\u7814\u7a76<\/em>
\n not all research as I mistakenly assumed. The \u5bfe\u8c61\u3068\u306a\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005<\/em>
\n refers to people in the \u88ab\u707d\u5730, but I wonder if the Ministry<\/em>
\n shouldn’t consider whether people displaced by the disasters and no longer<\/em>
\n in \u88ab\u707d\u5730 require a clause in this memorandum, however difficult it<\/em>
\n would be to enforce. Even if the government is incapable of keeping tabs<\/em>
\n on extra-district research, in the end the scholarly community has to<\/em>
\n police its own research ethics.<\/em><\/p>\n

\uff12\u3002\u3002\u3002\u5fc5\u8981\u3068\u8003\u3048\u3089\u308c\u308b\u88ab\u707d\u8005\u306b\u306f\u3001\u9069\u5207\u306a\u4fdd\u5065\u533b\u7642\u798f\u7949\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u304c\u63d0\u4f9b\u3055\u308c\u308b\u4f53\u5236\u3092<\/em>
\n \u6574\u5099\u3059\u308b\u7b49\u914d\u616e\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u3002<\/em>
\n Needless to say, I hope the responsible agencies are also giving those<\/em>
\n \u88ab\u707d\u8005who do not become research subjects this consideration in<\/em>
\n sufficient measure!<\/em><\/p>\n

Greg Johnson<\/strong><\/p>\n

—————–End H-Japan message———————-<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry has issued a directive, written by the Education Ministry’s Department of Life Sciences, Bureau for the Promotion of Research, to all related research industries, universities, and tertiary-education associations regarding health surveys and research conducted within the Tohoku disaster area.<\/p>\n

Dated May 15, 2011, a little more than two months after the tsunami, the directive (full Japanese text below) essentially tells academic researchers 1) there are “ethical guidelines” (rinri shishin) for epidemiologists to follow, and that research guidelines must be passed by ethics committees and approved by their research institution’s head; 2) these health surveys and research must also sufficiently (juubun) be run by the local governments (jichitai) in the disaster areas beforehand, and afterwards the results of the research (if I’m reading this odd and rather vague sentence right) must “take into due consideration” (hairyo) the disaster victims and the appropriate systems providing them health and welfare (better translations welcome); 3) in order to not to cause any undue stress to the disaster victims, health surveys and research must avoid repetition by “not surveying and researching in more detail than necessary”, and with sufficient understanding of the situation on the ground.<\/p>\n

Well, it might sound sensible at first read. But given the history of lack of accurate and timely information being issued by the Japanese authorities concerning the whole Fukushima debacle, there is another way to read this ministerial directive: 1) All research must be tracked and approved by somebody above you in the research workplace, 2) All research must be tracked by the local governments and health departments before and after, and 3) All research must not ask too many questions.<\/p>\n

The point is, in the name of “ethics”, the government is inserting veto gates into what might become research independent of the GOJ, and making sure that information tracked before and afterwards stays under central control. Which means, in practice, that if there are research lines or inquiries or results unpalatable to the GOJ, they might not be seen by the public.<\/p>\n

My read of this document is that this is primary-source evidence of GOJ central control over the scientific method regarding a politically-sensitive issue. And this will control the information flow out to the world regarding the effects and aftermath of Fukushima.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,19,4,31,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bad-social-science","category-education","category-japanese-government","category-tangents","category-8"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9542\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}