This paper argued despite diverse recognitions in the idea of Japan as a “normal country”, two main discourses can be generalized: One stated Japan should shoulder more responsibility in international order and security without amending her constitution, while another claimed swift the notion of the constitution in order to transform Japan to a more complete sovereignty and powerful state.
Since the debates about amendment of the constitution are still unsolved, this paper focused on the Japan policies and behaviors in shouldering international responsibility. This paper argued in spite of domestic and international restraints, Japan achieve fragmentary success in terms of increasing commitment in international security, strengthening alliance with the United States (US), and reinforcing her national defense to a certain extent. This paper finally argued these achievements will continue with the desires from international community, but the amendment of constitution and the expansion of traditional force will be restricted by both domestic and international pressure.
Japan as a “normal country”
According to Yang (2012), the idea of Japan’s becoming a “normal country” has its origin from Ichiro Ozawa, who argued there is an initiative for political reform in order to maintain international order and peace with the end of Cold War. Japan, as stated by him, should have her own responsibility and role, as a “normal country”, respected and understood by international community. As for shouldering the international responsibility, especially in security issues, Japan should breakthrough the limitation set by the Constitution of Japan (also known as the postwar Constitution or the Peace Constitution), strengthen the Japan-United Stat...
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...rantee are also concerns for Japan to think twice (Soeya et al., 2011). Therefore, Japan is believed to move towards a “normal country” slowly but surely.
Works Cited
Soeya, Y. (2011). A “normal” middle power: interpreting changes in Japanese
security politcy in the 1990s and after. In Y. Soeya, M. Tadokoro, & D. A. Welch (Ed.), Japan as a “normal country”? A nation in search of its place in the world (pp. 72-97). Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
Soeya, Y., Tadokoro, M., & Welch, D. A. (2011). Introduction: What is a “normal
country”?. In Y. Soeya, M. Tadokoro, & D. A. Welch (Ed.), Japan as a “normal country”? A nation in search of its place in the world (pp. 3-15). Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
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The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market, mostly pointed at China. To put an end on that the United States put economic sanctions and trade embargoes. We believed that if we cut off their resources and their source of federal income than they would have no choice but to pull back and surrender. But the
Japan led a ruthless assault in the Pacific for fifteen years. This small island was able to spread imperialism and terror to neighboring countries through means of force and brutality. Japan even attempted to combat and overcome European and Western countries such as Russia and the United States. Even with an extreme militaristic government, Japan was unable to achieve the glory it was promised and hoped for. The Pacific War analyzes Japan’s part in the war and what the country could have done to prevent such a tragedy.
In 1900 Britain was in many respects the world’s leading nation, enjoying a large share of world trade, a dominant position in the international money market, and possessing a far flung empire supported by the world’s most powerful navy. Japan was a complete contrast, sharing with Britain only the fact that it too was a nation of islands lying off the shore of a major continent. Until the 1860s it had possessed a social and economic structure more akin to that of feudal, rather than twentieth century, Europe. By the 1990s, the positions were almost reversed. This paper sets out to examine the contrasting democratic political systems of the two nations and to explore the social and democratic consequences of the changes that have occurred.
Nakae Chomin’s Discourse was published in 1887, a period that demarcated a crucial turning point in Japan’s politics and economy. The book itself suggested the great debate that the people of Japan were having in deciding the future of the nation, and draws on Chomin’s studies on Western politics in France and his journalistic and political involvements in Japan.
In Nakae Chomin’s A Discourse by Three Drunkards on Government, Chomin delineates a discussion between three men; the Gentleman of Western Learning, the Champion of the East, and Master Nankai. For the most part, the book handles the question of Japan’s future, for which each of these men has distinct view on. Although through the amiable and democratic viewpoint of the Gentleman of Western Learning and the belligerent nationalist viewpoint of the Champion of the East, Chomin shows appreciation towards western political theories and understanding of traditional Japanese approach, His personal views are conveyed through the character of Master Nankai.
The Meiji Revolution was a pivotal time period in Japanese history, a period during which Japan was rapidly industrialized and transformed through the efforts of a newly centralized, imperial government. As Western goods and technology permeated the nation, so did Western perspectives on morality and ethics enter the public view. However, such perspectives were not necessarily easily accepted; through the inspection of various primary sources, it becomes clear that, despite Japan’s rapid acceptance and adoption of Western technology and culture, there remained clear resistance toward Western views on social order.
Tsuzuki, Chushichi. The Pursuit of Power in Modern Japan, 1825-1995. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Questia. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
...ty for one that better suited its capitalistic tendency. That opportunity came in1868 when the Meiji imperial rule was able to overthrow the Tokugawa regime, setting off a political, economic, social and cultural change that transformed Japan. As Japan embraced modernity with full force, some began to realize the negative impact of modernization on the rural life, social structure and most importantly on its culture, blaming it on the western influence on its modernization. Thus as Japan neared World War II, it embraced a new sense of modernization, one that was separate from westernization, creating a nationalistic and fascist government policy. Japanese society is characteristic of plurality and opposing value systems coexisting. As new ideals and institutions arise, Japan sees itself transforming and changing at the hands of internal and external forces.
Japan: A Unique Country. Weebly, 2 June 2013. Web. The Web. The Web.
...t diversity as a necessary evil of the new world economy, but still hold onto the xenophobic and conformity views it has had throughout its’ history. Only time will tell whether the Japanese society is ready to accept diversity. The movement has been started by the younger generation and the successful technology based companies they have founded. Japan’s history dictates that conflict follows fast cultural changes. The transformation from the Nara Era into the Tokogawa Era, and later from the Tokogawa Era into the Meiji Era were all marked by quick and rapid changes in Japanese cultural doctrine. Each transition had violent confrontations between those fighting to take power and those trying to keep it. During each of these cultural revolutions influences from the old system remained. Japan today has put down their swords, but as past history shows, the old conservatives will not hand over their system to the younger liberals easily. This suggests that the change toward diversity in Japan will not happen over night, but slowly over time. It may take generations for the Japanese society to completely forget the conformist and xenophobic cultural influences of the past 1500 years.
Throughout its history, Japan has striven to define its national identity not by its own means, but by those predefined by foreign, and most recently, Western powers. Despite legends of the island archipelago being created by the sun goddess Amaterasu, Japan seems to have consistently maintained a indecisive self-image with respect to its neighbors. In the past, China had represented the pinnacle of culture and technology and had tremendously influenced other surrounding countries in Asia and in the world. Indeed, Japan owes its written language to imported and adapted Chinese characters. Without question, China remained for a long time the most influential force upon Japan. However, island nation maintained a rather precarious self-identity: How could a country like Japan, which was supposedly created by the gods and therefore a divine nation, consider itself the apex of the world, given China’s tremendous influence and power? Could Japan truly consider itself the greatest land in the world if China, or Chugoku in Japanese, literally meant “the central country?” For this reason, Japan never truly accepted a position of “belonging” to Asia. That is, despite a considerable amount of imported culture, Japan was still somehow inherently different from other Asian countries.
Koellner, P. (2011). The Democratic Party of Japan: Development, Organization and Programmatic Profile . In A. Gaunder (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Japanese Politics (pp. 24-35). London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.
Our preliminary class gave a brief, yet detailed outline of major events affecting the East Asian region. Within that class, prompted by our limited geographical knowledge of Asia, we were given a fundamental explanation of the geographical locations of the various events taking place in the region. In subsequent classes, we were introduced to the major wars, political shifts, and economic interests which shaped Japan, China and Korea to what they are today. We examined the paradigm of pre-modern Japanese governance, the Shogunate, and the trained warriors which defended lord and land, Samurai. In addition, we examined the socio-economic classes of Medieval Japan, which included the Samurai, peasants, craftsmen, and the merchants. We also examined pre-1945 Japan’s policies toward foreign entities, notably the Sakoku Policy, which sought to expunge all foreign presence and commerce in an effort to protect its borders and culture. 1945, however, saw ...