IP: Tokyo Diary # 1

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Hello from Tokyo,


I arrived in Tokyo on Monday the 22 nd and started with two commitments --
one to give the keynote at the first meeting of the CAN -- a community
network organization being formed to coordinate community networks in
Japan and beyond. The subject was "The NGI and it's impact on communities".
The main reason for the visit was to give an address to the Japan Forum on
International Relations -- a NFP organization with major industrial
membership. The attendees at the dinner meeting included very senior
members of the industrial members -- almost all non technical and a senior
Senator (ex General). I had 45 minutes to present my remarks on the Impact
of IT on the US economy and infrastructure. That was followed by a vigorous
1 hour question period. It was very provocative and worthwhile. I was asked
to comment on why Japan is lagging in the network area and answered it
straight and hard.  I made audio recordings of both speeches and the Q&A.
Speeches in  English Q&A --  Japanese questions and English answers). I
will try to get them up on my Web site next week.


As usual my schedule filled up with other meetings with the press and other
study groups and even some friends. So aside from a quick visit to the
Ginza to pick up ceramic knives I have had little time to relax (and I have
been suffering from jet lag worse than normal). 


The weather has been raining most all the time. Today might be better and
today is Akihabara visit day, so Tokyo Diary #2 will report on that.












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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
 safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."       - Ben Franklin, ~1784
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