The 62nd Installment
“A man’s highest ambition attained”—Out of date? Not really ....
by Mitsuhiro Maeda,
Professor, Master Program of Innovation for Design and Engineering
A little more than a quarter century ago, when I had just entered the real world, I was concerned about the phrase “a man's highest ambition attained,” which was a favorite of my elderly (?) superiors. Leaving aside the highest ambition, they were happy to use the word “man.” Not only being out of date, but it’s a big problem in terms of gender, isn’t it?
Elderly people used this phrase with a peculiar sense of fulfilled ecstasy on the occasions of greetings upon a job transfer or retirement. They couldn’t have expressed such a sense of ecstasy without this phrase. While I didn’t want to be like them in my early twenties at that time, I also thought the day when the phrase would give me such ecstasy would probably come at some point.
The day has finally come—this is what I want to talk about today.
The Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology (AIIT) hosts an international organizationnetwork called the Asia Professional Education Network (APEN), where I am its executive director. (Allow me not to talk about APEN because it requires a lot of space.) On the job there, I frequently feel the “man’s highest ambition attained,” upon which I poured scorn a quarter century ago. I probably had a sense of satisfaction even when I was young. However, that peculiar sense of ecstasy can only be felt after the age of 50, when you start to think about preparing for death when the seasons change. Furthermore, I think that the ecstasy that old men feel when they talk about the “man’s highest ambition attained” has a specific smell. It could relate to pheromones or something, perhaps.
Example 1. In April 2012, APEN invited economic ministers from 10 ASEAN countries to our university. It was a big thing. I really appreciate the support from virtually all the faculty members. In the end, we saw off the ministers leaving by bus and waved our hands. Although it was raining, we chose to get wet because it would be a shame to put up an umbrella. It would only be until the bus was out of sight, so I expected one or two minutes at the longest. Only God knows, however! The bus couldn’t turn onto the narrow seaside street, and after being stuck for a long time, it came back and left from another route . It took about 30 minutes! It was not raining heavily but it was raining steadily, so we all got soaked.
After the bus left, I felt sorry for everyone and looked back to apologize. Surprisingly enough, however, everyone was smiling and happy about the success. I was impressed. I couldn’t thank them enough.
Up to here, this is only a good story. However, that sense of ecstasy suddenly fell on me, and I automatically said to myself, “Gosh, this is exactly “a man’s highest ambition attained!”
Incidentally, APEN became recognized among Asian ministers because the joint statement at this time (ASEAN Road ShowRoadshow) stated that the ministers would support the activities of APEN. Our “soaked” effort bore big fruit.
Example 2. In the following month after I established APENwe established APEN in June 2011, I somehow had the opportunity to meet Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang. There, I told him about my idea of the Small MediumSmall and Medium Enterprises Mission, and he wanted to welcome it and asked me to come. Asked when, I replied it would be within the fiscal year, but he raised his voice saying that that was very late and asked me to come within the yearwithin the calendar year. Then, thanks to everyone’s great effort, I managed to dispatch the Mission in December. I talked with the president at the Vietnamese Communist Party headquarters. I said, “Mr. President, do you remember me? You asked me to come within the yearwithin the calendar year when I met you in July, and that’s why I’m here.” And the president said, “I remember you very well. Thank you for keeping the promise.”
A president of a country thanked me for keeping a promise! Straightly, this is nothing other than a full-fledged old guy’s ecstasy of a man’s highest ambition attained! I smelled it.
Example 3. As of two years ago, I find it fun to talk about APEN with students interested in it in my office after my lecture every Saturday. In November 2011, after the ASEAN-Japan Summit, I said to the students who gathered as usual, “I have to apologize, everyone. Despite all your support, APEN was not included in the ASEAN-Japan Summit communiqueChairman’s Statement,” and expressed my disappointment by purposely dropping my shoulders. Of course, purposely. Then, they earnestly cheered me up by saying, “The summit will be held next year, too, right?” “You can try again next year,” and “Don’t get down!”
As a person, it’s not bad to be earnestly cheered up by someone. Meanwhile, I’m an educator, too. So, after being cheered up for almost an hour, I explained, “By the way, do you guys know what you are talking about? It’s a summit. And APEN, right. Do you know the level of the summit’s communiqueChairman’s Statement? It’s the highest in the world of diplomacy.” Then, they realized they were being made fun of.
What do you know, however. Two years of persevering has passed since then. And you must look at the Chairman’s Statement, paragraph 10, of the 16th ASEAN-Japan Summit that was held on October 9th of this year in Bandar Seri BegawaBegawan!
I’m proud to say that APEN was included! Now APEN is finally an organizationnetwork that is supported at the summit level.
On that day, I informed the students, who I made fun of two years ago (sorry!) about it. I received congratulations e-mails from everyone one after another. While reading such incoming e-mails in a dark room in the middle of the night, I enjoyed “man’s highest ambition attained.” I unusually thought for a second I would have a drink, but I didn’t because I was drunk with that specific smell.
Now, working for APEN is physically very tight for someone in his 50s like me, and sometimes I really feel I’ve come to my last moment. However, I can also enjoy “man’s highest ambition attained” like this. It’s a privilege for old men, which I couldn’t enjoy when I was young. I may have another opportunity tomorrow. Thinking that, I’m still whipping my old body suffering from goutbody.