Opinion

Voluntarily refusing the volunteers

By TONY LASZLO

"Close-minded people think that the sum total of one inch plus one inch is just two inches, plain and simple. Open-minded people know that, in actuality, it can be three, four or even five inches." Umeda Kin'ichi, a taxi driver I met recently in Kanazawa City, used these words to explain the mentality that has kept one foreign resident of that city suspended in limbo for nine years.

"If a guy is willing to put himself in harm's way to protect the community, and to do so on a voluntary basis, I say more power to him. It's the fellow's character that counts, not his nationality."

Umeda is talking about Richard Curtis, a U.S. national from Napa Valley, Calif., who has lived in Kanazawa City for most of the last 15 years. The transplanted American was initiated into "Baba Bundan," a local squad of Kanazawa's shobodan, nine years ago and has been "Richard Curtis of Baba Bundan" ever since. However, the question of whether or not Curtis is a shobodan member is becoming a rather hot topic of debate in Kanazawa.

Simply put, the Baba Bundan squad members and Curtis' neighbors consider him a member, but the city of Kanazawa does not.

"We appreciate Curtis' years of participation with Baba Bundan," says a city spokesman. "But foreigners can't be actual members."

The Kanazawa decision is based on a 1953 government statement that established a nationality restriction for public servants, including shobodan members, which are noted in Japan's Local Public Servant Law. The Japanese government says Japanese nationality is, as a rule, a prerequisite for public servant positions when public authority is being exercised, but leaves it up to the local government to decide on a case-by-case basis. Kanazawa is saying "no" to foreign residents' participation.

Sanada-machi, a smaller city located in Nagano Prefecture, is saying "yes." Troy Beard, an Australian national, has been an equal and official member of that city's shobodan for the past three years.

"We didn't really think it was such a big deal," a Sanada-machi representative says. "If the person is able and willing to volunteer, and is prepared to live in our city for at least a few years, then that is good enough for us."

At least two other municipalities have also given foreign residents the nod. Tokyo, on the other hand, rejected the applications of five foreigners who applied in January of this year. Kanazawa is a peculiar case, in that the government refuses to recognize Curtis officially — it has refused to accept his application, in fact — but encourages him to participate with his colleagues in an unofficial role.

Shobodan membership nationwide is declining by about 6,000 people per year and aging dramatically, as well. More than 35 percent of Japan's shobodan members are over 40. These and other considerations make it obvious that Japan's municipalities should be enthusiastically encouraging all community members to actively participate in shobodan and similar activities.

If it is my place that is on fire, I certainly hope that the nearest able people come running with buckets of water, fire hoses and community spirit — regardless of their nationalities. Come one, come all, come quickly. And I certainly hope the kind people coming to my aid arrive ready to use both hands. Best to leave the passports at home.

Shukan ST: May 18, 2001

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