Editorial
History lesson: Foreign policy can revive Japan's domestic crises
The public's expectations that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) could revive Japan brought about a transfer of power last year. It was a fact that the economy remained sluggish, there were various social problems and the social security and medical programs were beginning to crumble prior to the August general election. Rural areas in particular had been hit hard by the economic downturn. Moreover, Japan's influence in the international community had declined considerably.
Under these circumstances, it is natural that the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama declared that it would carry out the Heisei-Era Reform.
There is a glimmer of hope in the prospects for people's livelihood and the social security system. However, there appears to be a long way to go before Japan puts the economy on a recovery track. The fiscal 2010 budget draft has raised questions about how the government will secure financial resources for its policy measures. The Hatoyama administration's poor handling of Japan's relations with the United States, the core of Japan's diplomatic policy, has caused friction between the two countries. The government has failed to show a clear national strategy, due to his preoccupation with a political funding scandal in which two of his aides have been indicted.
During the half-century up to the 710 relocation of Japan's capital to Nara, Japan overcame serious crisis and successfully revived the nation, as was the case with the transition from the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Meiji Era. The relocation of the capital to Nara symbolized Japan's achievement of nation-building, defense build-up and creation of new culture as a comprehensive strategy.
At the time, East Asia was torn by war. Emperor Tenchi, popularly known as Nakano Oe-no Oji, and other Japanese leaders, who carried out the Taika Reforms in 645, deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Korean Peninsula to support Paekche, one of the countries on the peninsula, only to be defeated by coalition forces of Tang and Silla. One history book says 400 warships burst into flames, turning the sea red. Following its defeat, Japan feared that Tang and Silla would attack Japan.
Japan stationed soldiers in the Chikushi district of Fukuoka and on Iki Island north of Saga Prefecture to guard Japan from a possible attack by these countries. At the same time, Japan reformed its political system into a constitutional form of government modeled after that of China. Members of royal families and intellectuals, who had defected to Japan from Paekche and Goguryeo after these countries fell, also played an important role in the reform.
Japan is believed to have been most open to the world during the Nara Period. Numerous Buddhist priests visited Japan from various countries at the time. An Indian priest brought the soul into the statue of Great Buddha and Chinese and Vietnamese priests played an important role in a ceremony held at Todaiji Temple in Nara in 752, which was attended by about 10,000 priests. As Japan had exchanges with Silla and Bo Hai in China, Nara was the hub for exchanges between Asian and Western cultures.
The Heijo-kyo Palace in Nara had an ability to dispatch influential messages to the world, but how about in the 21st century? The transfer of power as a result of the DPJ's landslide victory in the Aug. 30 general election did send a strong message to the world. Speeches Prime Minister Hatoyama delivered at a U.N. meeting about Japan's efforts to prevent global warming and achieve nuclear disarmament shortly after he took office draw extraordinary attention from the world for Japan's head of the government. The question is whether his government has an ability to put these words into deeds. These messages can convince the international community only if Japan strengthens the foundations for such efforts and takes concrete actions to achieve these goals.
Considering Japan's current situation, it is natural that the government tends to be inward-looking. There are numerous urgent tasks to be addressed. At the same time, however, Japan is required to proactively work on global issues to fulfill its role as a developed country in the age of globalization. Even though the economy remains sluggish, Japan has potential power. The country is expected by the world to play an important role not only on environmental policy, but a wide diversity of issues.
If Japan improves its ability to send influential messages to the international community and draws attention from the world, it will vitalize Japan. It will also attract excellent human resources to Japan. The government is required to have such a long-term strategy to revive Japan. Tokyo should try to change the situation in which the number of foreign students studying in Japan and that of Japanese students studying abroad has leveled off.
To improve its ability to send influential messages to the international community, the government must deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is the core of Japan's diplomatic policy. Japan must restore mutual trust between the two countries that has been shaken by the stalled relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. It is also important for Japan to step up its cooperation with emerging countries such as China and India and its neighbor South Korea as well as other Asian countries. Japan needs to work closely with many of its allies to address global issues.
Another important point is the necessity to share Japanese culture to the world. Japanese leaders during the Nara Period, who introduced advanced civilization, also nurtured new culture. Manyo-shu, the oldest anthology of tanka poems, contains poems composed by Emperors and other members of the Imperial Family as well as soldiers and ordinary citizens, and is still read by numerous people. Japanese people in that period made hiragana and katakana Japanese characters from kanji characters introduced from China.
Japan has abundant traditional culture, and has an environment in which new culture can be created through resonance between the traditional culture and modern culture. New styles of poems are now being created in the world of traditional waka poems, which date back to the Manyo-shu era. Novelist Haruki Murakami's works have been popular with people all over the world, and Japanese films, anime and food are enjoying high reputation on a global scale. Such a wide diversity of culture is Japan's important resources.
Efforts to improve Japan's ability to send influential messages to the international community will lead to the revival of Japan.
(Mainichi Japan) January 2, 2010