What we should learn then?

 That’s identity.

 The identity of Switzerland people is cheese.

Because they are deploring over the fact that Switzerland now imports more cheese than it exports in 2022 for the first time in history.

Their pride for cheese shows.

 According to the New York Times article dated Aug. 8, the Swiss are proud of their cheese. Most of the cheese they eat are local varieties like Gruyere, Emmental and other hard cheeses.

 Mr. Daniel Koller, a director at Swissmilk, Switzerland dairy association says cheese is part of their identity.

 I know how the Swiss are feeling about it.

 Their pride must be hurt because a cheese import country is the last thing they want.

 There are some reasons why they ended up buying more cheese from abroad than making ones.

 More specialized cheese farmers

Swiss producers have become more specialized in recent years, and the cheeses they export tend to be the higher-value varieties[i].

This means they produce less cheese in total giving more profitable ones to other countries.

 Trade surplus

Swiss can keep trade surplus by about 10 swiss franc per kilo in export compared with about six swiss francs per kilo paid for imports

 Strong swiss franc

Strong swiss franc made cheese more expensive in Germany

 Shortage of dairy farmers

The number of cheese producers dropped more than half over the last 25 years. This means fewer cheese to export.

 Developed tastes

Swissmilk says the swiss have developed a taste for foreign cheeses with lesser consumption at home.

 Identity as a economic driver

As I said the swiss lost in sorrows with their identity hurt.

Let me locate where their identity is.

Their identity lies in the fact that they are the only one to tell the cheese from the others.

 The delicacy of their taste is the most valuable asset to differentiate swiss from the rest of the world.

 In other words, if the swiss compromise with lost in cheese export, the country lose international competency.

Rice as  identity of the Japanese

As you know the Japanese is the only developed nation with no growth for almost 30 years from 1994.

 There are varieties of reasons from ever fewer population, downright poor productivity, less motivated workers, outdated human resource systems, to say a few.

 The most vital factor, however, is blurred identity of the Japanese.

 I would identify Japanese identity on their behalf.

 Identity means the real strength which lies in only you.

 As cheese is identity of the swiss, rice is for the Japanese.

 So is karate.

 I wouldn't say foreigners don’t appreciate rice in its flavor, savory aroma, balance with water.

 But there are convincing reasons why it is only Japanese how to cook, taste, and deal with rice in the best manner.

 Because we are born with rice. We grow and die with rice.

I cut the rest of the story with rice and the Japanese including the fact that rice is official donation for divine spirituals.

 For karate, I must admit Japan has failed to win such an event like World Games and Olympics.

But does this mean Japan is no longer a role model in karate?

 No.

I always feel like something is lacking with non-Japanese karate performance both in kumite and kata.

 Like rice, we have lived with karate.

That’s why.

Sorry if I sound biased and even nationalistic.

  Identity means national pride which is common to every country.

 It also means the strength not found in others.

 Without finding the trait unbeaten by the others, no one country will succeed in any way not to mention economically.

 Ichiro Noro

Professor, Seiwa University

[i] New York Times Weekly 2023 Aug 6 A surprising shift in Switzerland’s cheese imports