Yunus meets Crown Prince, Princess and Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister Naota Kan of Japan received Nobel Laureate Professor Muhmmad Yunus at his residence on 20 July, to discuss the application of the concept of social business in Japan and other countries.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate called on the Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako at their invitation on July 20 in Tokyo at the Imperial Palace. Both of them have long been interested in microfinance and social business. The Imperial couple discussed Professor Yunus's concept of social business and its potential role in solving some of society's most pressing problems, in Japan, Bangladesh, and elsewhere. Princess Masako had expressed particular interest in meeting Professor Yunus since her father, Justice Hisashi Owada, a former diplomat and currently President of the International Court of Justice, is a long time friend of Professor Yunus. Justice Owada and Professor Yunus both serve on the board of United Nations Foundation founded and chaired by Ted Turner.
Earlier on the day Professor Yunus met the Prime Minister of Japan at his residence. Prime Minister Kan, who met Professor Yunus during his previous visit when Mr Kan was in the opposition, wanted to know the progress of social business, which proposes that individuals and companies begin non-loss non-dividend companies to solve society's problems in Japan. Professor Yunus and the Prime Minister discussed in the context of a new approach recently taken by the Prime Minister proposing a concept of Public Service for Japanese society that emphasizes that all social responsibility should not be on the shoulder of governments alone, and advocates that partnerships have to be created with other actors in order to solve society's problem.
Prime Minister Kan and Professor Yunus also discussed the existing partnerships between Grameen and Japan, and possibility of future collaborations. He was happy to know that Japan's foreign aid agency JICA is taking active interest in social business. Prime Minister said that he would like to continue to support initiatives undertaken by Professor Yunus, and will also introduce policy changes to enable Japanese development agencies to invest in social business.
