Writing and researching this blog has really brought me up to speed on what’s been going on in Japan recently. Though leadership has changed hands (very rapidly) from Abe-san to Furude-san a the core issues remain the same. Even back when I was in Japan and Koizumi was Prime Minister, which is not very long ago at all, but considering leadership has changed hands twice since then, it seems like things might have changed a little more. The Prime Minister’s most visible actions with its neighbors still seem to be solving old diplomatic issues relating to respect. Whether it’s visiting Yasukuni shrine, textbook inaccuracies, or a kidnapping three decades ago, there always seems to be some old root that causes Japan and its neighbors to go at each others throats. I’m coming to think that perhaps part of the reason Japan changes its leaders as often as countries with much more serious problems is that maybe their government is fed up with being entrenched in the past. And maybe one of these days a leader will be elected who has the ability to resolve past issues and move forward with a fresh start. For Japan, who now has to deal with increasingly powerful neighbors, a declining population and a history they aren’t always proud of, moving increasingly forward is integral to retaining their current level of relevancy. Hopefully Furude-san or one of his successors will have the strength to do this, because the Japanese people really have no alternative but to rely on them to resolve their international issues so that they too may move forward proudly.
Made Comments November 5, 2007
I made comments on drkotobuki.wordpress.com, keinengel109.wordpress.com, and hlgaiser.wordpress.com a few days ago and forgot to post that here, so now you now.
Updated and Fixed Blogroll October 30, 2007
I addes a link to the blogroll and fixed a formatting problem I noticed today.
Korean Clarification of Kim Kidnapping October 30, 2007
I updated breaking news today.
Hopefully this clarification of blame (relating to Park) will help keep Japan and Korea from going at each others’ necks. Judging by the speed of Korea’s reaction to the negative Japanese reaction the countries seem realize where their priorities need to be; with making peace with each other, not bickering over the details of old news. As previously mentioned, both Korea and Japan have serious issues to resolve; they can’t afford to fight over every little perceived grievance. Of course I feel sorry for Kim, because he was kidnapped and that must have been pretty terrible, but the reaction happening between the governments of the two countries over three decades later is just overkill. It’s definitely, a good sign that Korea and Japan are dealing with the scandal quickly and maturely though. With other leaders in charge this incident might have quickly turned into a major political debacle overshadowing more important things, but it seems that while there was quite a fuss made it won’t turn into something bigger than it actually is.
New Fingerprinting Measure October 30, 2007
I updated Breaking News today.
Xenophobia strikes again! I could just stop there, but I really need to write a whole paragraph about this, so I guess I should elaborate. While I do agree that this measure could help stop terrorists, the information given by the Minister of Justice involving terrorists entering Japan strikes me as vague enough to be suspicious. And on top of that, while Japan may support the US’s invasion of Iraq, they are constitutionally not able to go to war, which would seem to place them at the bottom of the list of countries terrorists would want to attack. And while I do agree that the US has somewhat similar policies regarding foreigners, we actually allow foreigners to become citizens. In Japan there is no way for people who are not at least part ethnically Japanese (or OK, I’m pretty sure Hokkaido Ainu have Japanese citizenship, but other than them) to become citizens. So even if a person was born in Japan, their parents were born in Japan, and their grandparents were born in Japan, if they are Korean, Chinese, Brazilian or anything other than Japanese by ethnicity, they are disqualified from becoming Japanese citizens. You’d think with their labor shortage and declining population they would be welcoming foreigners, but no. The fact is Japan is a very ethnically insular country (I should know, I lived there for a year), and as a country it will probably be a very long time before that changes. And the upsurge of terrorism in the world is really not helping matters. There’s not much use complaining about what can’t be fixed, but still, it’s kind of sad that the small steps forward that have been made recently are being erased.
Kim Abduction Scandal October 29, 2007
I updated breaking news today on the article “Kim report may reignite old dispute./Admission of KCIA role likely to unravel diplomatic sttlements.” Honestly, this abduction happened a LONG time ago. Under a very different South Korean government. I can see why Japan wouldn’t like to be falsely accused of having connection to the scandal, but does it even matter anymore? At least South Korea is coming clean about it; would Japan prefer they continue to hide their old activities? Because really, that’s the only other option available to the South Koreans. Japan and South Korea are always at each others’ throats, sure, but could they at least choose something more important to fight about? Like something that has happened in the past decade? Neither country wants to be held accountable for what their previous governments did, as indeed, they can’t control that, so why don’t they just make a joint agreement to forgive each other for their old crimes? I know practically speaking that that would be very difficult, but clearing their emotionally charged atmosphere would certainly make both of their lives easier.
Blogroll Update October 24, 2007
I added four new links to the blogroll-there’s some pretty solid information there for those wanting to read up on the background of east-asian relations in Japan.
Prime Minister Fukuda October 23, 2007
I updated my Breaking News section today-
Well, Abe-san wasn’t Prime Minister for very long, was he? From what Yasuo Fukuda has been saying it looks like he’s in the right frame of mind to repair relations with Japan’s neighbors. It’s somewhat discouraging that his cabinet may not necessarily support him, but its better to have at least someone who wants to improve relations. It’s amusing, as this article points out, that now that they don’t have Yasukuni Shrine to gripe over, they’re actually having to look at real problems. Now they’re griping about energy problems like the rest of the world:) At least gas is something firmly rooted in the present and doesn’t dredge up as much anger as war-time atrocities. I’m not sure how Fukuda’s time as Prime Minister will turn out, but at least it looks like he’s willing to look in the right direction for his country’s future.
