October 26, 2000 Tadashi Yamamoto, Leading Japanese Intellectual, to Speak on Responsive Governance November 20 at the Library of Congress

Tadashi Yamamoto, one of Japan's most distinguished leaders in the field of civil society and governance, will deliver the 2000 Mansfield American-Pacific Lecture, "Toward Responsive Governance in the 21st Century: Perspectives from the United States and Japan," at 6 p.m., November 20, in the Library of Congress Mumford Room, James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. Mr. Yamamoto will be introduced by Michael H. Armacost, president of the Brookings Institution and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Seating will be limited. Seats must be reserved in advance by calling (202) 707-1616.

Japan is in the midst of a vigorous debate about how to restructure its traditional political and bureaucratic institutions in order to succeed in a rapidly globalized world system. Drawing on his experience as member and executive director of the late Prime Minister Obuchi's Commission on Japan's Goals in the 21st Century, Tadashi Yamamoto will explore how Japan can move toward a new model of governance that joins bureaucrats and citizen groups in new partnerships, unleashing the full creativity and abilities of the Japanese people in the process. Mr. Yamamoto is currently president of the Japan Center for International Exchange, a member and Japanese director of the Trilateral Commission, and a member of the German Dialogue Forum and the Korea-Japan Forum.

"It is a great honor to have Tadashi Yamamoto deliver this lecture on responsive governance," said L. Gordon Flake, executive director of the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs, which is co-sponsoring the lecture with the Library of Congress. "Both the United States and Japan can benefit from fresh perspectives on how individuals and civil society can work to revitalize government and strengthen public life. Tadashi Yamamoto is admired throughout the world for his insight into the relationship between governments and their citizens, and during his distinguished career, he has served as a leading spokesperson on this issue."

The Mansfield American-Pacific Lecture series explores the shared and competing values and interests that underlie policy debates between the United States and Japan. For each lecture, the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs selects a Japanese and an American speaker who address the same topic in each other's capital. Thomas Friedman, New York Times foreign affairs columnist and author of the bestselling book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, delivered the 2000 lecture, also on the topic of responsive governance, in Tokyo on September 21. Past Mansfield American-Pacific lectures have included some of the most distinguished leaders in their fields: Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Joanna Shelton, former Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Stephen Jay Gould, Harvard professor and acclaimed scientist; Hiroshi Inose, one of Japan's leading scientists; Cokie Roberts of ABC News (formerly of National Public Radio); and Hayao Kawai, distinguished Jungian psychoanalyst.

The Mansfield American-Pacific Lecture is sponsored in the Library of Congress by the Office of Scholarly Programs. It is the fourth such lecture to be held at the Library of Congress.

The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs is a public policy organization committed to promoting understanding and cooperation between the United States and Asia. In honor of the lifelong interest in Asia of Ambassador Mike Mansfield and his wife, Maureen, the Center seeks to span distances and differences among policy makers, government officials, scholars and the public. Focusing on new voices and audiences, the Center's programs inform, explore the underlying issues that influence policies, and facilitate dialogue among Asians and Americans to enhance policy formation. With offices in Washington, D.C., Missoula, Montana, and Tokyo, Japan, the Center provides a forum for Asians and Americans to address issues of local, national and international concern. The Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs is a center of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation.

Interpreting services (American Sign Language, Contact Signing, Oral and/or Tactile) will be provided if requested five business days in advance of the event. Call (202) 707-6362 TTY and voice to make a specific request. For other ADA accommodations, contact the Disability Employment office at (202) 707-9948 TTY and (202) 707-7544 voice.