How is Japan using its expertise to help Ukraine recover?
Recovery and reconstruction are part of Japan’s DNA. The Asian country is aiding war-torn Ukraine in several ways that include managing the disposal of debris, building infrastructure, and providing humanitarian aid.
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00:00 As the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion approaches, on the occasion of the Japan-Ukraine
00:08 conference for promotion of economic reconstruction, I'm in Tokyo to learn more about how the
00:15 Asian country is supporting war-torn Ukraine.
00:20 Japan is the perfect example of how to rise like a phoenix from the ashes.
00:30 Despite being left with almost nothing after World War II, the Asian country recovered
00:35 at an incredible speed, creating the Japanese economic miracle.
00:42 Its resilience and know-how has since helped Japan recover quickly after major natural
00:50 disasters.
00:51 $7.6 billion in humanitarian, financial recovery and reconstruction assistance has already
00:58 been given to Ukraine, and another $4.5 billion recently pledged.
01:02 Now the country is using its expertise and past experience to help rebuild Ukraine.
01:10 One thing that our experience shows is that the resilience is much more than a material
01:16 issue.
01:17 It's not just a matter of fixing physical infrastructure.
01:20 It's about harnessing the full capabilities of a society, its know-how, its social and
01:26 cultural systems, and its people.
01:29 Any successful recovery effort has to put people and society first.
01:36 Japanese assistance is involved in various areas.
01:39 One of those is the removal of debris.
01:44 The Japan International Cooperation Agency coordinates the national government's official
01:49 assistance to other countries.
01:51 They have facilitated a visit for Ukrainian officials to Japan to gain insights into waste
01:56 management.
01:57 When the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred, the government quickly established a national
02:04 master plan.
02:06 In just three years, they completed almost all debris management with over 80 percent
02:11 of waste recycled and only 26 percent of non-combustible waste disposed.
02:19 This expertise can help with the rapid and proper disposal of the large amount of debris
02:25 generated by Russia's military aggression in Ukraine.
02:28 Here at the composite material plant in Kashyva, the Ukrainian delegates can observe the intermediate
02:34 treatment process for industrial waste and learn about Japan's disaster waste management
02:39 and construction recycling systems.
02:44 In Ukraine, there are huge amounts of debris generated by the war, so we are thinking that
02:52 our experience in quickly treatment of debris and the very high recycling rate could be
03:00 a model for Ukraine to manage this structural waste.
03:07 The big challenge for Kiev is to dismantle destruction waste while the destruction is
03:13 still ongoing.
03:14 Organizing waste disposal is possible only in areas that are already safe for people.
03:23 First, the territory is demined, then the first cleaning is done, and only after that
03:30 can the waste management be organized.
03:36 Several Japanese companies are investing in Ukraine's agriculture, energy, green metallurgy
03:42 and construction industries to support the country's economic reconstruction.
03:47 IHI, a major Japanese manufacturer of heavy machinery, is planning to build a large-scale
03:53 suspension bridge on the Danube linking southwest Ukraine with Romania.
03:58 It will look like the Braila Bridge, located 200 kilometers from Bucharest and completed
04:05 by IHI last year.
04:06 The purpose is to increase the connectivity between Ukraine and the EU.
04:14 Now Poland is currently main EU route.
04:17 Considering the future increasing the trade value, it may be better to have alternative
04:21 road.
04:22 The bridge's construction, which is going to take about six years, will start when the
04:28 war ends.
04:32 Japan's support is also humanitarian.
04:37 An estimated 20,000 Ukrainians have had amputations since the beginning of the war due to the
04:43 constant shelling and mines.
04:45 In Japan, startups such as InstaLimb are sharing their expertise to provide assistance.
04:52 Physical and psychological rehabilitation of war-affected people is a priority.
04:57 The need for prosthetic devices in Ukraine is high.
05:00 InstaLimb uses AI and 3D printing technology to create low-cost prosthetics.
05:06 InstaLimb plans to train Ukrainians to make prosthetics to show their abilities.
05:13 InstaLimb plans to train Ukrainians to make prosthetics to shorten production time and
05:37 increase efficiency.
05:42 Many Ukrainians have had no choice but to leave their country.
05:46 Some of them have immigrated to Japan, where they have the chance to rebuild their lives.
05:52 According to the Immigration Services Agency, there are over 2,500 people displaced from
05:57 Ukraine now living in Japan.
06:00 The Japanese government, with the help of non-profit organizations, has granted them
06:05 a residency status, allowing them to study and work.
06:10 Irina comes from Bucha.
06:11 She fled Ukraine with her son at the beginning of the war.
06:14 After a month spent in a refugee camp in Germany, she chose to move to Japan.
06:19 It was not easy at the beginning, but now things are going much better.
06:24 I am very grateful that I had this language school that gave me this start.
06:30 I don't say that I speak the language now.
06:33 It became easier after learning the language.
06:36 We relaxed until we got used to the culture.
06:41 It's been almost two years since she arrived.
06:44 She has a part-time job as a teacher at the Sunday School for Ukrainian Children in Tokyo.
06:49 The school was opened by the Krayani Association, supported by the Nippon Foundation, an NPO
06:56 which helps Ukrainian evacuees with travel costs, living expenses and scholarships.
07:02 Thanks to this NPO, Ukrainians attend Japanese language schools, acquiring the skills required
07:08 to find employment because a large number of them are planning to stay.
07:13 In August 2023, we asked the survey of the number of refugees who wanted to return to Japan.
07:21 74% of them said they wanted to stay in Japan for a long time.
07:28 We found that the number of refugees increased compared to last year.
07:34 For people who have fled a conflict, it's crucial to integrate in a new society.
07:39 That's why events such as this one are frequently organized.
07:43 Sharing their culture and traditions with the locals, Ukrainians can move on and feel hopeful
07:49 about a better future while their country's recovery is supported by international partners.
07:55 [APPLAUSE]