Once again, Morimitsu Onishi has written an entertaining report on the current state of politics, nationalism and North Korea in the NY Times. As Onishi points out, the current government in Japan has used North Korea as justification for revising a “pacifist” constitution and, as per a new law last week, to promote patriotism in the classroom.
The issue has silenced Japanese moderates critical of the government’s overall hawkish domestic and foreign policies. One exception, Koichi Kato, a senior lawmaker in Mr. Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party, has been an outspoken critic of hard-line policies toward Asia and of the resurgent nationalism in Japan. In August, a right-wing official angered by Mr. Kato’s comments burned down his family home before trying unsuccessfully to commit hara-kiri. “It’s not only the abduction issue, but also anti-China and anti-North Korea sentiments,” Mr. Kato said of the subjects fueling Japanese nationalism, choosing his words cautiously.
So where the South Korean Government has foolishly used Dokdo and anti-Japanese sentiment to develop common cause with North Korea (there are even South and North Korean stamps that commemorate Dokdo), the Japanese Government has used North Korea as the means to promote a political agenda:
Challenging the political importance of the abduction issue has become such a taboo that even opposition politicians refrain from doing so. Liberal journalists and scholars expand privately on the manipulation of the abduction issue, but few dare to make public comments.
Onishi quotes Yoneyuki Sugita, a historian at Osaka University.
“Prime Minister Abe is using this issue to try to carry out certain political goals. North Korea is evil, and to respond against it, he is effectively saying that Japan must revise its Constitution and promote patriotism in its schools. This is the direction in which he is pushing this country. This has been very successful, but it’s also very dangerous,” said Mr. Sugita, who received threats from the right wing after publishing an essay on this subject. “It’s become such an emotional issue, and fanned nationalism in such a way, that it has already encroached on freedom of speech.”
Considering the escalation of political games, it may be likely that sooner or later, more countries in this region will go nuclear and with far more capability than North Korea — regardless of what the U.S. wants. Lastly, I note that one source (who felt that Japanese women had too many rights!) quoted by Onishi blame the U.S. for placing the burden of having a pacifist constitution forced upon them. It is fashionable to use America to justify anything and everything, no matter how dubious it may be . . .
31 Comments
Um, didn’t General MacArthur’s staff write Japan’s pacifist constitution?
Sure does look as though we are on the cusp of a new era of nuclear proliferation. Japan’s large nuclear energy program had always provided it with a virtual deterrent, now NK nukes are leading to the actual thing. The US had warned China that this could happen with NK nukes, and sure enough, it looks as though it will. Taiwan is keen to develop nukes, perhaps SK will too in the future, and over in the Middle East, just heard on NPR that Sunni Saudi Arabia is exploring a nuclear program to balance expansionary Shite Iran. Sure hope Mearsheimer will be right about nukes and peace.
Ah yes, a very balanced point of view, Mr Elgin. Rather than the Japanese government responding to the geopolitical reality created by foreign countries, it “uses” the situation to do what it wanted to do anyway. Those Japs are really master manipulators, aren’t they?
Ah, political agenda? If journalists and opposition politicians do not come out “Challenging the political importance of the abduction issue” it is because the abductions are just so utterly reprehensible and indefensible that there is virtual unity among the common people about the abduction issue. Every Japanese person I have ever met thinks the Japanese government should be doing more to bring its kidnapped citizens back to Japan.
China, North Korea, and South Korea have been verbally attacking and threatening Japan for the past several years, so why is anyone surprised that the Japanese has finally started moving away from their pacifist constitution? If China, North Korea, and South Korea did not want the Japanese to militarize, then why have they been pushing them so hard?
I think Japan could have put up with North Korea’s antics, afterall its North Korea, but I think the Japanese were probably surprised to see how hostile South Koreans had become. Yes, North Korea may have been the main reason, but I think South Koreans have also played a big part in convincing the Japanese that it is time to start thinking about rewriting their constitution.
In the study of international relations, analysts talk about the ’security dilemma’: one country acquires arms or fortifies its defenses to maintain or enhance its security, which in turn makes other countries feel insecurity so that they also begin to acquire arms, etc. Conflict spiral ensues.
While I believe there are politicians in Japan who are ‘using’ issues to further their own agendas (which is what politicians do the world over), I think the evidence supports the fact that China has been undertaking a military build-up, and North Korea has been pursuing (and finally acquiring) nuclear weapons. And these two events precede Japan’s so-called militarization (a highly-charged term). If your neighbor hates you and he buys a gun, you just might be inclined to go out and get one yourself. Perhaps only the most pacifist of individuals (Gandhi-esque?) would be willing to forego such measures.
One might also argue that Japan has actually been showing restraint, seeing as how Abe and other Japanese officials recently have stated that Japan will not ‘go nuclear’ (athough some have called for a discussion of this).
‘abductions reprehensible, indefensible…’ shak
how do you feel about the japanese abducting koreans? that’s what i thought.
why does shakee have a picture of an asian guy as his logo? does that mean shak is some japanese guy born in australia? of course, if the picture isn’t him, that would be even more interesting.
btw, guys, i thought all you said japan was a mature nation. don’t seem like it.
‘japan is an equal of the us. korea is not. that’s why you’re so surprised to find a korean who thinks he’s better than you.’ expat
yeah, if a korean thinks that he’s just as good as any westerner, that gets interpreted by the expat as the korean saying he’s better than the expat. the expat misunderstands the situation. still further, korea may not be equal to the us, but any korean is an equal to any westerner. that’s what you miss, expat. that’s why you’re so offended.
That’s right, and any Filipino is equal to any Korean, including your mother, nulji.
Now, pretend not to be offended by that.
Gerry, Korea and China have great reasons to be offended by Japan. The rule for the WW2 loser is to keep apologizing. In recent years, Koizumi became quite bold, relative to his predecessors, and did everything possible to attract attention and controversy.
In every possible way, Japan was the instigator and now it wants to protect itself.
It’s a cunning way to arm up, like this entry has suggested or said.
If you can’t see that, you’re not as smart as you think you are.
They want to arm up, free of US constraints and checks, and even get their own nukes. Sure, allow nukes to those guys who had an offical Japanese govt peace dealer in Washington when they bombed Pearl Harbor with the intention of whiping out the entire US Western Navy.
What Japan would possibly do with its better army is a mystery. But, based on history of 100 years ago, they will likely use it and not be apologetic about it in anyway.
And, by the way, pro Japanese lovers always like to counter any of this Japan bashing with, why does Korea have an exporting sex industry, isn’t developed and rich, here’s a link to Korean sex workers…so I ventured into the cia world factbook, and Viola!…
“and declining number of Taiwanese women to Japan for commercial sexual exploitation”
Well, isn’t Taiwan developed and rich, too?
It won’t make any sense, and I won’t try to, but it’s all Japan’s fault. The Japanese are to blame. Even for Taiwan’s problems. Although, Taiwan doesn’t have as much disdain for Japan, because like I have said before, the Kuo Min Tang had official relations with Germany and Japan during WWII, although not at the same time.
the link isn’t supposed to support that it’s Japan’s fault.
Remind me again. Korean whores and Taiwan are involved in this topic in what ways?
Utterly baffling posts, wjk.
Someone didn’t close the tag.
Will this work?
Guess not. What did wjk do?
Anyway,
Yes, yes, it’s all Japan’s fault.
You don’t know why, but it’s in your genes to say so.
Thank you for reminding us.
“wjk”. . . WTF? . . . you are making the water muddy with your splashing about.
YAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNN….
BORING.
How dare they demand a molestation-free subway ride!
True, but Japan’s been pretty much free to change its Constitution ever since the occupation ended. So if Japan had really had the political will to delete the pacifist provisions of the Constitution, they could have done so long before now.
I apologize for muddying the water.
However, I think it is clear that Japan via Koizumi, angered its neighbors, and now it wants to arm up. And I dare say, that its original goal in offending its neighbors was to have a clear excuse for arming up.
Japan has had one of the most technically-advanced armed services in the world for quite awhile now, and spends a lot more on defense than the other nations in the region (although maybe China actually spends more these days — I don’t believe their budget is open to public scrutiny.) They ‘armed up’ a long long time ago. So the idea that somehow Japan is pissing off the Koreas and China just for the excuse to buy or build extra weapons seems to be a bit of tinfoil hat lunacy that misses the mark completely.
You’re right on both counts. Japan still has the edge in technology and training-wise, but China far outspends it once even the more modest estimates of off-the-books spending is taken into account. Additionally, while Japan’s defense budget shrank during Koizumi’s tenure, China’s continued the more than 10% annual increases it has undergone for nearly 20 years now. Any Japanese leader who wasn’t worried by such a spending spree would be guilty of gross negligence - what possible threat justifies China’s arms buildup?
That is a good question or why the new, large bomb shelter in Shanghai? If any war occurs, it will have “Made in China” stamped all over it, only I do not think the Chinese would be apologetic over such. The Chinese actively sponsor any military buildup in Asia simply by their activities and support of countries like North Korea and quite possibly Burma (Myanmar), which enjoys a close relationship with China, at the expense of most countries in the region.
Um, didn’t General MacArthur’s staff write Japan’s pacifist constitution?
As I recall (don’t have my copy handy), in Manchester’s bio of MacArthur he speculated that MacArthur may have personally wrote Article 9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....n_of_Japan
while choosing for whatever reason(s) to leave the credit to others.
I think a comparison of MacArthur’s brief remarks at the Japanese surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay 2 Sept 1945 may support this assertion. Unfortunately, the wikipedia link (below) does not refer to these at all, but as I recall the remarks were quoted verbatim in the Manchester bio, and the language was very reminiscent of Article 9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J....._Surrender
Manchester characterized this portion of the constitution as “Victorian idealism” and MacArthur (1880-1964) as a 19th century man.
Don’t forget who the author of this article. Normitsu frequently writes “unconditional appeasement of a regime [Roh]“, so it’s probably not a good idea to take anything he says for face value. If Roh’s plan calls for praise of North Korea, then praise of North Korea is what Norrimitsu will write. If Roh’s plan calls for Japan bashing, then Japan bashing is what Norimitsu will write.
It’s not so easy to say that the Chinese and North Koreans are falling into the trap the Japanese have set to use as an excuse to remilitarize. The bottom line is the appropriate response to Kim^2 building nukes and threatening to turn your backyard into a ’sea of fire’ is to be sure you’re able to prevent that. The only way you can make claims such as Chinese and North Koreans are falling into the trap the Japanese have set to use as an excuse to remilitarize, is if you believe that someone with an itchy trigger finger and a nuke pointed at you 24/7 is not a threat. And frankly if you believe that, you’re an idiot and people shouldn’t even waste their time trying to talk to you.
as i recall reading somewhere, normitsu is a naturalized korean. if anyone can find his bio, it’d be much appreciated.
korean who was naturalized japanese to be precise.
Onishi refuses to comment on that, fueling speculation.
What kind of fellow said abuse about his nation in newspaper of a foreign country. However I except resistant in autocratic nation. Japan is not a autocratic nation.
Morimitsu Onishi must be a Korean Japanese or a anti-Japanese Japanese. Fellow who dislikes his nation is bud guy without exception. Article of Onishi is anti-Japanese propaganda.
ain’t it interesting? just a couple weeks ago, the expat was telling the koreans how they needed to accept the truth with regards to a 4 part series on korean prostitution that appeard in the sf chronicle. no questions about the authors’ motives there, but oh my god, find a reporter who tells the truth about japan, and you get all sorts of questions about his integrity. not only that, they’ll qustion his race in their attempt to dismiss what he writes for a respected newspaper. i can’t find any proof that mr onishi is anything but japanese in his ancestry. whether or not he addresses accusations drummed up by the right wing in japan is really neither here nor there*; his race is only an issue for bigots who force ‘the truth’ on others while doing everything to avoid the truth for themsleves and their pet peoples.
’so it’s probably not a good idea to take what he writes at face value.’ darrin in japan
is it a good idea to take what you write at face value? it’s obvious you despise koreans. does that mean you can’t be objective when it comes to koreans? that’s what i thought, darrin. that’s what i thought.
‘is neither here nor there’ = ‘is not important or germaine to the issue.’ for those who don’t understand
In Japan’s own self-interest, they should re-arm, perhaps with nukes (unless the US can persuade them that a better way exists). The same with any country, including China and South Korea. They better be acting in their own best interests or the politicians should be turfed out (I know not possible in China’s case and soon to happen in the case of the Roh-nothings in SK). Of course the Japanese have to weigh the reactions of their neighbors and others, but taking care of your own protection should be paramount. No self-respecting nation gives over the complete responsibility for their own defense to another nation, no matter how friendly.
Japan can’t get nukes. Condi said the US would protect Japan. Meaning with nukes. Regardless of what everyone says(they already built up a lot in the 80’s), Japan is planning to add on to their military after Kim Jong Il’s blast. This may have happenned anyway to counter China.
So, I hold on to the idea that Japan needed an excuse to arm up and rewrite their restrictive constitution, and that was done by angering China and the two Koreas.
Japan is surprised at how much South Koreans don’t like them? Koizumi holds all the blame there. What did Koizumi accomplish by breaking from his predecessors? It would have been a total disaster, if it wasn’t for the Iraq war, which allowed him to get tighter with Washington DC.
it’s not even in the interest of US for Japan to get nukes. The more players with nukes on the table, the more chance that one gets fired.
Ultimately, US interests are not Japanese interests and not Korean interests.
If there is any dispute down the line, more push buttons, more chance of trouble. Japan getting nukes in defense violates the very idea that the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty or the idea of it works among civilized democracies. DC gave word. It will protect Japan. That should be enough, and it says DC will counter any North Korean nuke attempts by nuking North Korea or China. There is no reason to give Japan or South Korea the ability to do that themselves or the remote chance of firing one to US or targets the US do not approve of, say Beijing. While Pyong Yang may become an acceptable target.
wjk, I don’t know if you’re responding to me, but I never said that it was in the US’ interest for Japan to get nukes. I believe it would be in Japan’s interests to get nukes, just as it would be in SK’s interests to get nukes and Taiwan’s as well. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s in the best interests of others, the region or the US. I’m just thinking in terms of nationalist policies. If Canada weren’t so well protected by the US, I would have no problem with us getting our own nukes.