Japan Watching: Society, Politics, Culture, Economy, Environment, And the World

US firebrand movie director Michael Moore was in Japan last week to promote his film on the global economic meltdown, "Capitalism: A Love Story".

"As much as I like America, quit being like us. Be Japan," Moore said, reflecting his concern that Japan has also seen the dark side of capitalism.  The regrettable reality is that Japan is picking up the US’s bad habits, without picking up our good habits!

The government of Yukio Hatoyama attaches great importance to developing an "East Asian community".  The basic concept stems from the philosophy of "yu-ai", or "fraternity", within which people respect the freedom and human dignity of others.  "Yu-ai" means not only the independence of people but also their coexistence.

But how does this apply to transgender, transsexual, homosexual and other people who may be marginal members of national communities, especially in a very conservative society like Japan’s?

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been pushing the idea of an East Asian Community.  Could Europe be a model for such a Community?  Europe is the only real example of this type of Community.  And as evidenced by the recent nomination of a European President, step-by-step, it seems to be working.

There is perhaps no country which is more clever in exerting its soft power than China.  And there is perhaps no country which it can tease with its dance of friendship more than Japan.

China stokes up anti-Japanese public opinion as a tool of nationalism.  It blocks Japan’s wish to have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.  It harasses the Japanese navy in the East China sea border.  It is undertaking a massive military buildup.  And it competes very actively with Japan for influence with their South East Asian neighbours.

And then, in April 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a great speech of friendship to the Japanese Diet.  While mentioning Japan’s war of aggression against China, he highlights Japan’s path of peaceful development since the war.  Just read some of main points.

Japan’s new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was elected on a platform of developing a more independent relationship with America.  After all, those Yankee bully boys have been dictating Japanese foreign policy for over 60 years.  Ironically, this comes at a time when the US is losing interest in Japan, and is focusing on its G2 relationship with China, a country that has always been able to punch above its weight.  And also ironically, with neighbours like China and North Korea, Japan needs the US, which guarantees its defense, perhaps more than it realizes. 

The issue of the US forces in the southern Japanese island of Okinawa has become the lightening rod for US President Obama’s visit to Tokyo right now.  In 2006, after 15 lengthy years of negotiations, the US and Japan agreed to move its base to elsewhere on the island.

Everyone is talking about the idea of creating an “East Asian Community”.  Japan’s new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Okada have raised the issue as a priority of their government.  It was top of the agenda at the recent East Asian Summit.  And Australian Prime Minister Rudd has proposed the creation of an Asia-Pacific Community.

There are ongoing debates about who is in and out (Australia?, US?).  But what is most important is the possibility of reconciliation between China, Japan and Korea.  Nothing substantial will come to pass without that.  And this necessary reconciliation would be the great benefit of such a Commiunity.

Historically, China was always the most powerful country in Asia, and was clearly Asia's leader.  It practised suzerainty over many neighbouring countries, meaning these countries were tributaries and indeed paid tribute to the Chinese empereur.  In theory, all East Asian rulers derived their authority from the Empereur who was the centre of the civilised world. 

At the time of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, Japan suggested creating an "Asian Monetary Fund".  The US instantly put a stop to this idea.  The world is after all ruled from Washington.  Also, the timing was not good, with Asia down on its knees.

East Asia has certainly been a globalization winner.  Export-led development has created prosperity and massively reduced poverty.  But has it created the basis for a more stable and secure region in a similar way to Europe's development?  Or has it opened up old wounds which still need to be healed?