[nasional_list] [ppiindia] The myth of rising Japanese nationalism
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
- Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 07:27:09 +0100
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**http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/12/opinion/edkitano.php
The myth of rising Japanese nationalism
Mitsuru Kitano International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006
WASHINGTON Reports of excessive Japanese nationalism are fashionable
today in some U.S. news media. Their selective compilation of phenomena that
appear to support this idea could well make many believe it. But is it really
true? A check of the facts indicates otherwise.
Japan's critics charge that an extreme Japanese antipathy toward South
Korea and China is on the rise. A recent report that a comic book titled
"Hating the Korean Wave" has sold 360,000 copies went on to say that this
suggested strong anti-Korean sentiment in Japan. The report failed to note,
however, that according to opinion polls, the percentage of Japanese having
warm feelings toward South Korea increased from 36 percent in 1996 to 57
percent as of 2004. Further, South Korean television dramas and actors are
extremely popular in Japan.
This warming of relations between South Korea and Japan was spurred by
the 2002 soccer World Cup, which both countries co-hosted. Any antipathy toward
South Korea today is a counter-trend, smaller in scale.
On the other hand, polls show that the percentage of Japanese who hold
warm feelings toward China has declined, falling from 69 percent in 1988 to 38
percent in 2004. Tiananmen Square in 1989 and recent violent anti-Japanese
demonstrations throughout China regrettably affected public opinion in Japan.
At the same time, however, economic and cultural exchanges between Japan
and China are deepening. China is now Japan's largest trade partner. More than
four million people travel between Japan and China yearly. And Chinese is,
after English, the second most popular foreign language studied in Japan.
Other reports charge that Japan tries to glorify its prewar militarism
and whitewash past misdeeds. A new history textbook that was authorized for use
was cited as proof of this so-called revisionism. But it is seldom reported
that the textbook - which only 0.4 percent of Japanese schools have adopted -
describes World War II this way: "This war caused huge damage and suffering to
the people of the various regions of Asia that had become the field of battle.
In particular, soldiers and the people of China fell victim in large numbers to
the invasion by the Japanese military."
Additionally, while there are voices opposed to Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, he has clearly apologized and stated his
remorse for Japan's past colonialism and aggression. And Japan remains
committed to making the San Francisco Peace Treaty the foundation of its
postwar existence, including acceptance of the judgments of the International
Military Tribunal for the Far East.
Another false criticism charges Japan with trying to revive a dangerous
militarism. Recently, Japan dispatched its Self-Defense Forces for peacekeeping
operations; they have also joined international operations in Iraq and the
Indian Ocean. Japan has also strengthened its security arrangements with the
United States, and hopes to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
These actions can be viewed as a departure from Japan's former passive
diplomacy. But Japan's path is one of close cooperation with the United States
and of strengthening the international community.
Broadly speaking, conditions in Japan are the opposite of those favoring
an advance of dangerous nationalism. Nationalism runs strongly during the
formation of nation-states; established democratic states do not need
nationalism for legitimacy of rule. Japan today is a mature democracy, whose
society prizes freedom of expression and other checks against a rise of
excessive nationalism. It is in nondemocratic states with no freedom of
expression that rulers tend to resort to nationalism in order to strengthen
their authority.
(Mitsuru Kitano is minister of public affairs for the Japanese Embassy in
Washington.)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
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