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.
The Discourse acts as a forum for the exploration of the political pathways that Japan could follow following the Meiji Restoration in 1868. At a time when Japan had just begun to consolidate herself, Chomin’s Discourse was aimed at discussing Japan’s long-term trajectory through three imaginary mouthpieces, ‘The Gentleman of Western Learning’, his opposition ‘The Champion of the East’, whose debate is being observed and arbitrated by a ‘Master Nankai’.
The “Gentleman of Western Learning” presents arguments centered around the political ideology of pacifism and can be seen as the “idealist” of the book, advocating ideas out of his time, seemingly to be a man of vision in today’s context. He proposes the abolishment of the Japanese military and believes that a moral defense built through the virtues of liberty, freedom, equality and fraternity would be more than sufficient to safeguard the nation’s shores and interests (Pg. 51). His cause for unilateral disarmament is indeed noble, though sadly, a pipe dream in his era.
I found two other ideas, which the “Gentleman” propagated, interesting. Firstly, the idea of self-defense is evil that is based on the philosophical justification that life is most precious and that if one were to kill, it would be hypocrisy. The “Gentleman” essentially argues that any nation cannot defend itself without killing, and thus is unable to j...
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...feat of Japan in World War 2). With the changes of the nature of power, Japan by balancing out aggressive economic policies and a quiet military buildup, was able to build herself up to become a prominent player in the international sphere today. In closing, while Japan’s policies today in general have been skewered towards the arguments of the ‘Gentleman’, increasingly Japan has considered more realist concerns of security in the escalation of tensions of the East Asian geopolitical sphere. Chomin’s Discourse has nonetheless served as a prophetic blueprint for more than a century of Japan policy-making.
Works Cited
Chomin, N., & Tsukui, N. (1992). A Discourse By Three Drunkards On Government. -: Weatherhill
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. (n.d.). Global Article 9 Campaign. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http://www.article-9.org/en/what/index.html
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
The modern nation of Japan is a result of expansionist prospects that resulted in war between the nations of Korea, China, and the United States. Modern Japan is a result of the Sino-Japanese War, conflict with China, and the Pacific War, as well as the process of establishing a democratic state. These events combined (as well as numerous others not mentioned in this paper) marked the transformation of a militaristic and expansionist empire in to a democratic nation and ally.
5. Weinberg, Gerhard L. "Plans For The Defeat-And Defense-Of Japan." A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II. Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP, 1994. 871. Print.
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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.
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