We are pleased to announce the full-fledged renewal of our Web site.

With the renewal of the Web site, we have reaffirmed our determination to address squarely the pressing tasks and challenges Japan and the rest of the world face. To this end, we have launched serious discussions on four major agendas by reorganizing our channels for debate into four major categories - global agendas, Japan's democracy, the proposals for Japan's future and peace in Asia. Our hope is to create new trends that could address Japan's future tasks and world agendas by promoting discussions in the four new categories.

Some 14 years ago, I initiated a movement called The Genron NPO to address the pressing tasks Japan faced, and the challenges the rest of Asia and the world faced then. It has been our contention that unless the role of citizens and voters is enhanced, this country's politics and future would never be strengthened. We are halfway to achieving the goals. More important, it is becoming apparent that we are on the verge of a national crisis. Yet, almost all the stakeholders from politicians to journalists and academicians are averting their eyes and shying away from the predicament.

Out of such a serious sense of crisis, we have determined to renew our efforts to garner the voices of like-minded people, create venues for serious debate, pressure politics for action to solve problems and deliver progress reports of such moves to the entire world via our renewed Web site.

We seek your support and cooperation.