Nikkei Business Seminar

Today's outing was to "Nikkei Keiki Toron-kai," or a public debate on the broader economy organized by Nikkei, if I were to translate it roughly. I seem to go anywhere I am allowed access...

Although it was called a 'debate', it wasn't a heated argument or fight. Multiple experts politely took turns sharing their perspectives on the Japanese, global, and Hokkaido economies, as well as Ms. Takaichi's economic policies. There was no interruption or argument, not to mention "Fxxk you," middle fingers, or a battle royale, which was a bit disappointing.

The venue was a somewhat prestigious hotel.

It was my first time in several decades to be in such lavish surroundings. But looking around, the participants were all-too-familiar tribes: gray-haired retired gentlemen I often come across in the newspaper section of local libraries in the morning. Among them, I was the only female and the youngest (though that doesn't mean I was the showstopper at all; I am still a beginner Obaachan).

On the other side of the venue, near the doorway, there were relatively young and active-looking businesspeople. They arrived just before the event started and never sat in the central seats.

The two-hour seminar itself was rather predictable, with a very small number of PowerPoint slides. Yet, those fumbling with their smartphones were rare, and no one left the venue until the end, despite the content of the talks. I thought I saw the Sapporites' niceness and politeness here, too.

The panelists said Sapporo's future depends on AI, data centers, semiconductor chip facilities, Green Transformation (SDGs!), and tourism. ...Not to be mean, but I personally felt all these ideas were rather archaic. By the time the development of these facilities is completed, chances are the whole thing will be outdated if they do it on Hokkaido time. And I was scared that they seemed to want to be like Fukuoka—pursuing economic efficiency and "streamlining" businesses, while abandoning old but nice things and vulnerable people. 

• Duration: Three hours (door-to-door)
• Expenditures: 500 yen (round-trip subway ticket)
• Walking: 6,700 steps
• Bonus finds:
• The hotel has a very proper (by my standards) lounge open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., serving beverages and sweets (cake and coffee for 1,700 yen).
• Just a block away from the hotel is the Rokkatei flagship store—a must-visit whenever I go near the Sapporo stations (JR and subway).