After Pearl Harbor, Lessons Learned

It was on this day in 1941 that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) went addressed Congress about the attack on Pearl Harbor and requested and received a vote declaring war on the Empire of Japan. As I have pointed out before (here) Roosevelt was very misleading with the American public to say the least of it when it came to Pearl Harbor and (as discussed here) it was not true that the Empire of Japan wanted a war against the United States. The reason for that is simple enough as was proven by subsequent events; it was a war that all the military experts in Japan knew they stood very little chance of being able to win. The United States simply had Japan outmatched in terms of numbers, economic output, resources and industrial capacity. That fact itself was the main motivating factor behind the necessity for having the element of surprise in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan's only hope was to strike a crippling blow at the outset in order to stand any chance of winning or rather coming to a negotiated peace favorable to Japan in the long-term of the war. In the end, it didn't work out and many thousands of Americans lost their lives and Japan suffered immensely because of the conflict that never should have happened.

Despite what many people (in both countries actually) believe, Japan did not want to fight a war with the United States. It was something Japan was practically forced into, the Japanese government was backed into a corner and war was seen as the only way out. That really should not even be up for debate. However, what may surprise many people is that Japan did not really want to fight a war with China either and that was the event the United States seized upon to intervene against Japan, disapproval over the war in China. However, while Japanese forces had been fighting in China for about ten years, Japan had never declared war on China and the Republic of China did not declare war on Japan until after Britain and America had done so. At least as far as Japan was concerned, this was because Japan hoped that the "China Incident" could be ended. Japan hoped to come to some sort of agreement with the Chinese nationalists and was only concerned with the danger posed by the communist faction that had been gaining strength and was backed by powerful foreign interests.

The trouble in China began with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, something which the Japanese did not start but which was probably provoked by Chinese communists because it served only their interests for Japan and the Chinese nationalists to go to war with each other. Later, during the talks between Japan and the United States to try to keep the peace between the two countries, one of the American demands was that the Japanese military forces be removed from China. This was something that Japan was prepared to agree to with the only concession being that a small force be left behind to deal with the communist threat which was all Japan was concerned about anyway. The problem was that there was a misunderstanding over this American proposal that was not clarified until after the war. The Japanese thought that the United States were demanding that the Japanese withdraw from Manchuria as well (which was then the Empire of Manchukuo) as the United States still considered Manchuria to belong to China. However, this was actually not the case and tragically it was only after the war that the Japanese learned that America did not mean to demand that they withdraw from Manchuria as well.

Communism was on the march in East Asia and Japan had every reason to be concerned. The Soviet Union had reached across Siberia to the Pacific, had taken control of Outer Mongolia, threatened Manchuria and was supporting the communists in China. Even the League of Nations commission led by the Earl of Lytton admitted that Japan had legitimate concerns about defending itself from expansionist communism. The Japanese civil and military leadership kept hoping that the fighting in China would end, hoping that the next victory would finally compel Chiang Kai-shek to come to terms and stop the fighting so they could focus on the communist threat. Even though the United States had taken a very pro-Chinese and anti-Japanese attitude, the government in Tokyo expressed its willingness for the United States to be the mediator in bringing about a peaceful settlement of the hostilities between China and Japan. Unfortunately, the Roosevelt government did not appreciate the threat that the Chinese communists represented. Among the international community, it was really only the Empire of Japan that recognized how great a danger Mao's communists posed to the peace and stability of East Asia.

The sad fact that no one else recognized this danger until it was too late and the Empire of Japan, which had been the best bulwark against communist expansion in Asia, was devastated by war. On the part of Japan, mistakes were certainly made regarding China though most of them were not a part of any official government policy. The only one which was probably an official mistake was the support for the Wang Jingwei government. He was not a very trustworthy fellow and the recognition of his government made it all but impossible for Chiang Kai-shek to ever come to terms with Japan. However, as far as the United States is concerned, the great mistake was in not recognizing the communist threat and going to war against the one country best equipped to deal with that threat. Fortunately, better late than never, the United States has learned the lesson. Of course, expecting any country to retract part of what has become the national narrative would be expecting too much but American actions speak louder than words and those actions indicate clearly that the lessons of the war in East Asia have been learned. Certainly, coming to this understanding has been helped by the fact that Communist China today is too powerful and too threatening to ignore. Today, unlike in 1941, the United States opposes Communist China and supports Japan as well as strengthening the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the reinterpretation of the constitution to allow for collective self-defense.

Today, just like in those early days of communist aggression in East Asia, the Red Chinese are looking to expand and they are being supported by an expansionist Russia. However, this time Japan is not standing alone but has the pledged support of the United States as well as more friendly relations with almost every country in the region not being dominated by Red China. Tensions with South Korea are certainly problematic but in the worst case scenario they would have no choice but to join the non-communist powers opposing China or be dominated by the bandit government in Peking. As Communist China has become more aggressive and continues to build up its navy as a major offensive weapon, it is more important than ever to strengthen the ties of all the Pacific countries to form a defensive cordon around Red China. The Empire of Japan was the first to recognize the threat but everyone else can see it now and most are responding accordingly.

高山右近 Takayama Ukon, the Christian Samurai

Takayama Ukon or Dom Justo Takayama was a Catholic daimyo of the Sengoku period of Japanese history. Born in 1552 in Haibara-cho, Nara he was the son and heir of the daimyo Takayama Tomoteru of Sawa Castle in Yamato. As a child he was known as Hikogorō (彦五郎) and in 1564, at the age of 12, he was baptized and given the Christian name Justo when his father converted to Catholicism. At his coming of age ceremony he was named Shigetomo (重友). Today he is best known by the name of Ukon from his time as the officer of Ukonoefu. Alongside his father, he fought as a samurai to defend the lands of his father and further establish his position as daimyo. They fought in the armies of the great Japanese warriors Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, gaining Takatsuki Castle in Osaka. They also were very open and straightforward in presenting themselves as Kirishitan daimyo (Christian noble lords). They fought heroically on the battlefield, their faith preventing them from any fear of death and were also compassionate to others in peace. Their example moved many of those around them to convert to Catholicism as well. During this time there was freedom of religion in Japan but still those who were suspicious of the Christian religion. Takayama Ukon was determined to set a good example and show that one could be an honorable Japanese samurai and a sincere Christian since the value system supported rather than contradicted each other.

To be honest, upright, virtuous, loyal and moderate with a focus on family and self-improvement were traditional Japanese values which were also upheld by Christianity. However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was growing alarmed by the spread of Christianity, particularly after the Spanish took control of the Philippines. He feared that the religion was only the first step to a foreign invasion. It was not a correct assumption but also not a baseless one. In any event, in 1587 Lord Hideyoshi ordered the eviction of all Catholic missionaries from Japan and placed many restrictions on the Christian religion in Japan. It was then illegal for any daimyo to be a Catholic. For many people, the Catholic faith was new and did not have strong roots, so they followed the order and renounced their religion. Takayama Ukon, however, had stronger convictions. He was strong in his faith as well as steadfast in his loyalty to Japan, His Majesty the Emperor and the designated national leadership. So, rather than give up his Christian faith, Takayama Ukon shocked everyone by giving up his lands instead. Everything he had fought so long and so hard for, he handed over willingly rather than renounce his faith in God. He would not turn his back on Christ nor would he disobey the laws set down by his overlord and ruler. Truly, his example was an inspiration.

For many years Christianity remained legal in Japan but restricted and Takayama Ukon was able to live under the protection of friends as his kindness and upright behavior had earned him many admirers. He was known for his mastery of "Sado" (the intricate tea ceremony) and was one of the seven disciples of the 'tea master' Sen-no-Rikyu. However, things changed after Tokugawa Ieyasu came to power in Japan, establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate. Whereas, in the past, Christianity had been tolerated but discouraged, under Tokugawa Ieyasu it was to suppressed completely (again, due to fears which were not really justified but which were understandable given the situation at the time). In 1614 the Shogun prohibited the practice of Christianity in Japan and any who refused to renounce their religion would be exiled. Many in the Kirishitan community continued to practice their religion in secret but for Takayama Ukon, this was not possible. He was too well-known and would not defy the law no matter how painful it was for him. On November 8, 1614 the Catholic daimyo along with 300 other Japanese Catholics left Japan from Nagasaki.

On December 21 he arrived in Manila in The Philippines where his fame had preceded him. The Spanish officials, Jesuit priests and crowds of Filipino Catholics turned out to do him honor, having heard stories of the heroic Japanese samurai who had given up all his property rather than renounce his Christian faith and had now accepted exile rather than betray his God or his country. Christians had been persecuted in Japan because the government feared they would be potential traitors and the tools of foreign aggressors. However, Takayama Ukon proved definitively that this was not true. Not long after landing in The Philippines, he was approached by Spanish officials who offered to send him back home with a Spanish army to defeat the Shogun, rescue the Japanese Christians and protect them from further persecution. However, Takayama Ukon saw this as the Spanish simply trying to seize an opportunity to conquer Japan and make it one of their colonies so he firmly refused. He was a loyal Catholic and a loyal subject of the Emperor and would remain so until he died. He would not betray his faith or his country and would not allow any foreign invader to use him to violate Japanese sovereignty, even if they had some good intentions. He thanked the Spanish politely for their concern but firmly refused their offer. There would be no Spanish expedition to Japan.

The love and devotion Takayama Ukon had for Japan was as deep as that of any samurai of any faith, Christian, Buddhist, Shinto or other. He was treated with great respect and kindness in The Philippines but his health began to fail very soon and it seemed that being parted from his beloved Japan was too much for him to take. Only forty days after arriving the great Catholic daimyo weakened with sickness and died. The area of Manila was called Paco and eventually became home to several thousand Japanese Christians. In all that remains of the old town, Plaza Dilao, stands a statue of Takayama Ukon, known there as Dom Justo Takayama, dressed in his samurai robes, his hair in traditional Japanese style and holding a sword with the image of a crucifix to symbolize his status as both a Catholic and a Japanese warrior. The Spanish authorities buried him with full military honors as a Daimyo, the first of such rank to be buried in The Philippines. It was a focus of devotion for many Japanese Christians and, in time, a cause was started for Takayama Ukon with the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in Rome. He is currently titled as "Venerable" and will probably be beatified (declared "Blessed") next year, the last step on the path to being recognized as a saint. Certainly, Takayama Ukon is a worthy candidate for such recognition. His faith was steadfast and he gave up all he had, even leaving his country, rather than deny Christ. He was also just as firm in his patriotic love of country and loyalty to Japan. He did just as the Scriptures commanded to "fear God and honor the Emperor".

すべての人をうやまい、兄弟たちを愛し、神をおそれ、王を尊びなさい。

1 Peter 2:17

Today in History

It was on this day in 794 that HM Emperor Kanmu moved his official residence from Nara to Kyoto, the "City of Ten Thousand Shrines" and still the spiritual heart of Japan to this day.

Reflections on the Reign of the Emperor

This year marks the Silver Jubilee (as it would be called in the west anyway) of HM the Emperor of Japan who had his formal enthronement ceremony twenty-four years ago today. It was truly an historic event, coming after the 63-year reign of his father, the Showa Emperor, which was the longest reign in Japanese imperial history. Although born in the time of the Empire of Japan, the current Emperor was still only about 12-years old when Japan surrendered in 1945. He did most of his ‘growing up’ during the days of the American occupation and the post-war State of Japan. As such, things were quite different for him compared to past Japanese emperors and on his shoulders rested an immense responsibility. He would be the first monarch to reign after the war, after the empire and under the new constitution and the new place Japan found itself in on the world stage. Fortunately, he had the advantage of a long-reigning father who presided over the most dramatic changes and so the Emperor was able to be brought up in this new atmosphere and fully prepared for his position and what would be required of him by the time he came to the throne in 1989. Since then, he has proven himself to be one of the great monarchial leaders of the world and an example to his own people and to others worthy of emulation.

The past 25 years of the current imperial era have seen high points and low points for Japan but through it all, the Emperor has been exactly the monarch that the situation, and the times, needed him to be. He came to the throne at a time when Japan was undergoing astounding economic success. The country had risen from the ashes of war to become the second largest economy on earth and, for a time, it even looked as though Japan might surpass the economic powerhouse of the United States as the value of the currency rose and investment poured in. However, over-confidence, reckless spending and bad decisions by banks, businesses and the government soon caused the bubble to burst and Japan experienced the infamous “Lost Decade”, which was actually more than a decade, of economic stagnation. Over the many years of difficulties, the Emperor was a symbol of reassurance to the public as well as an example of frugality and simplicity. The Japanese monarchs have long been known for living elegantly but simply and the current Emperor has been no exception. He always set an example of being majestic and dignified without being ostentatious. The public, after the economic bubble burst, took this to heart and began to follow his example; extravagance was no longer fashionable.

On the political front, the long rule of the Liberal Democratic Party (the most conservative mainstream party) came to an end in 1993 but the coalition that replaced it soon collapsed and the LDP made its way back into politics in a bizarre coalition of its own that gave Japan its first socialist prime minister in half a century. Although most remembered today for his high profile apology to the other nations of Asia for the Japanese role in World War II, the election of a socialist prime minister was just the first in a string of disasters Japan had to deal with. His massive amounts of new regulations and entitlements did the economy no good, in 1995 a major earthquake struck Kobe and two months later a cult group carried out a poison gas attack on a Tokyo subway that killed 13 people and injured many, many more. The Emperor responded to such events with a dutiful adherence to his constitutional role and by acting in a kind and compassionate way to give comfort to his people in times of natural disasters. Both of these duties the Emperor would be called on to perform throughout his 25-years on the throne. In terms of politics, the Emperor has remained above the turmoil, never drifting to one side or the other but always on the side of Japan as a whole.

Although the Emperor is not a political figure in that he is not involved in politics or policy making, he is a leader and is undoubtedly the greatest leader Japan has and not simply by virtue of being the Emperor. He has shown more wisdom, moderation and foresight than virtually any political or social leader in Japan in his lifetime. In terms of domestic politics, the Emperor has always been scrupulous about following the rules and sticking to the constitution. This has made him an invaluable source of stability in very politically unstable times. Even when Japan was undergoing rapid turnovers of governments, one after another, there was no collapse in confidence domestically or in foreign countries. Anywhere else where governments came and went so quickly this would cause a panic but not in Japan and that is because, simply by being there, the Emperor has a calming effect. The politicians in Tokyo may bicker and feud but everyone feels that it will all be okay because the Emperor is still in his palace and all is right with the world. The Emperor, going about his duties, closing one Diet session and opening another, is a sign of survival. The Emperor is still there, just as he always has been, so Japan is still here, the country will not cease to exist because politicians cannot come to an agreement.

On the world stage, the Emperor has been, perhaps even more important over these last 25 years. His reign has seen the start of Japan reemerging as a force in world affairs and as a major military power (even if it is not, legally, a formal military). Japan deployed forces (in a non-combatant capacity) abroad for the first time since World War II, showing an increasing willingness to put the past behind them and become more self-sufficient in defense matters. Of course, this has not always been welcomed by those in other countries and bigoted elements at home and abroad (though they despise each other) have both sought to cling to memories of the war and keep Japan shackled to the past, a focus of hostile and suspicious feelings. However, so far, they have been unsuccessful thanks in no small part to the actions of the Emperor himself. In contrast to the narrow-minded chauvinism of the radicals, the Emperor has traveled the world, solidifying relations with allies, renewing old friendships and forming new and better relations with foreign countries as the embodiment of a confident, peace-loving, mature Japan. He has struck just the right note on every occasion, expressing regret for past events but honoring past heroism and sacrifice, acknowledging history but not being enslaved by it. Rather than carry on old grudges, the Emperor has set his focus on strengthening the Japan of today and tomorrow by goodwill and strong friendships in the international community. And, where Japan has been met by bigotry, the Emperor has taken the moral high ground, meeting such animosity with polite kindness, an open mind and an outstretched hand. Such warmth and dignity on his part has served more than once to highlight the immaturity of those powers which cling to bitterness.

While serving as an inspiring example at home and putting the best image of Japan forward around the world, the Emperor has also been a great comfort to his people in times of crisis. At no time was this more evident than in the worst disaster Japan has suffered since the end of the war; the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. The Emperor took the almost unprecedented step of addressing the entire nation personally in a televised message, the nearest thing to which that was ever done before being the address by radio to the people by HM the Showa Emperor in 1945. The Emperor and Empress also made numerous visits to the victims of the disaster, greeting them personally, talking to them, listening to them and comforting them. No one who experienced such a visit or even witnessed one could not have failed to be moved by the genuine sympathy and compassion the Emperor showed to every one of his unfortunate subjects at such a sad and difficult time. Once again, he set the perfect example and the people of Japan came together in a most heart-warming way to help each other, care for each other and to join in resilient determination to rebuild, recover and improve the afflicted area. With the moral leadership that the Emperor provided, everyone could see that the old values many had thought had disappeared in Japan, were still alive and could come back into focus in times of crisis for the country.

Throughout his reign, the Emperor has seen a number of natural disasters afflict his country. There has also been an increase in tension with Japan’s closest neighbors with harsh words and military scares from China, Korea and Russia. This, naturally, has led to Japan placing more emphasis on national defense and this, in turn, has provoked protests from Korea, China and Russia with China and Russia in particular clinging to the memory of World War II and wishing to, in their words, “preserve the post-World War II world order” which of course would include a powerless Japan. However, so far, their efforts to frighten other countries and divide Japan and her closest allies have proven mostly fruitless, thanks in no small part to the Emperor himself. He has always made it clear that he values nothing higher than peace, remembering the horrors and ruination of the war very well himself, and he has always been ready to reach out in friendship to any country. His actions have shown the rest of the world that any tensions, such as between China and Japan, are not being instigated by Japan but by China. The Emperor has also been of immense benefit in strengthening existing friendships with American and European powers as well as forging new and better relations with other Asian countries such as India.

The Emperor cannot keep the peace on his own, but he has set the right example, the right moral tone and been the best sort of ambassador Japan could ever have. He has spread trust and goodwill wherever he has gone and won over people in every country he has visited with his kind smile and genuine warmth. The last 25-years have, in many ways, been difficult for Japan. The country has troublesome neighbors, more national debt than any country in the world, faces a looming demographic crisis and has had to deal with many natural disasters. However, the people have also been coming together like never before, becoming more realistic and more involved in the world community and have shown the talent and creativity to overcome great problems. And through it all they have had the Emperor’s prayers to support them, the Emperor to set a matchless example for them, an Emperor to be their best public face to the world, an Emperor who has comforted them in times of crisis, congratulated them on great achievements and reminded all Japanese people everywhere of their shared history and illustrious national story. In brief, the Emperor has been, in every way, the model monarch and a matchless moral leader for his country and all his people. Congratulations on 25-years on the throne and may the Emperor reign on, until the pebbles grow to might stones. 天皇陛下万歳! 万歳! 万歳!

Today in History

On this day in 1867 the last Tokugawa Shogun formally handed power over to the Emperor, marking the start of the Meiji Restoration.

Japan and Indonesia, Brief Thoughts

Adm. Takeo Takagi

During the Greater East Asian War, Japanese forces invaded and took control of Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies) with relatively little difficulty. This was due mostly to the decisive naval victory over the Allies in the battle of the Java Sea by Admiral Takeo Takagi. The Allied fleet was not well coordinated and the Americans were doubtful about the operation as a whole, thinking it was useless. The Dutch naturally wanted to defend their territory and had been scoring naval victories in the days before the engagement so that the Dutch commander, Helfrich, was annoyed by the lack of commitment from his allies. In the battle, Admiral Takeo employed classic battle tactics made famous by the great British admiral, Lord Horatio Nelson, in the 19th Century. The old methods still worked well and the battle was an overwhelming victory for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Japan suffered only damage to one destroyer and minor casualties (less than 40 men) compared to Allied losses of 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers and over 2,000 casualties. With this victory the Japanese gained naval and air superiority over Indonesia and had the Dutch garrison isolated. Ground forces landed in amphibious assault teams and the small Dutch colonial army had no real chance of success and their surrender came relatively quickly.

Gen. Hitoshi Imamura

In the aftermath, Japanese troops moved quickly to occupy the islands, imprison the Dutch population and organize the native Indonesians to aid the war effort. To do this, the most prominent anti-Dutch nationalist to turn to for assistance was the leftist radical Sukarno. He was released from prison by General Hitoshi Imamura who commanded the Japanese army of occupation. General Hitoshi Imamura was a very humane officer and wanted to win the goodwill and cooperation of the Indonesians. Not every Japanese officer or official approved of his methods but since his policies worked so well he was allowed to continue and even gained a promotion because the results he produced so impressed the government in Tokyo. There was a great deal of talk about independence but Prime Minister Tojo was reluctant to go along with this because of how vitally important Indonesian resources were to the Japanese war effort, particularly the oil Japan needed for aviation fuel. Sukarno organized laborers for the war effort, set up schools to teach Japanese to the Indonesians and was able to surge ahead with his nationalist campaign for independence. However, Sukarno was not a true nationalist as he despised the native customs and leaders of Indonesia and those Japanese who were reluctant to trust Sukarno would, in the end, prove to be correct.

Indonesian Homeland Defense Volunteer Army

Japan helped in the establishment of a native Indonesian militia force and eventually even a proto-government as many Japanese officers and officials were ardent supporters of Indonesian independence and thought Sukarno was firmly on their side. However, Sukarno was a radical leftist and was really only using the Japanese for his own purposes. It was only in 1945, after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, that Tokyo agreed to independence for Indonesia and even then, once Sukarno learned that Japan had lost the war, his supporters had to force him to issue the declaration of independence from the Netherlands. Still, many Japanese supported the independence movement. They refused to cooperate with the returning Dutch authorities and some joined the war against them. However, Sukarno showed his true colors by immediately trying to gain Allied favor by turning against the defeated Japan to whom he owed almost everything.

Under Sukarno, Indonesia demanded and received billions of dollars from Japan in compensation for losses during the war. This was in spite of the fact that Japan had never been at war with Indonesia (Japan was at war with the Netherlands that ruled Indonesia but never Indonesia itself) and was very hypocritical since Sukarno had actively collaborated with Japan, had aided in supporting the Japanese occupation and had come to power with a military force that had been set up and trained by the Japanese during the war. Now, he demanded billions of dollars from Japan as though he and his country had been the victims of Japanese aggression. It was complete and total hypocrisy. Yet, Japanese governments of each major party have remained extremely generous towards Indonesia. Indonesia has received more investment and financial assistance from Japan than from any other country. Thousands of Indonesians have come to live and work in Japan, many more than the number of Japanese who have gone to work in Japanese businesses set up in Indonesia. This was itself partly due to the fact that so many of the factories, hotels and other businesses Japan paid for ended up failing due to mismanagement so that Japan began to bring in their own people to run Japanese funded businesses in the future. Indonesia has become, effectively, an economic dependency of Japan. Japan is Indonesia's largest trading partner, which is, of course, of benefit to Japan, but Indonesia has received far more in assistance, at the expense of Japanese tax-payers, than Japan has ever received in goods and services from Indonesia.

The country has been chaotic and badly run ever since the end of Dutch colonial rule. New leadership is obviously called for and Japan is perfectly placed to help bring this about given how heavily Indonesia depends on Japanese subsidies. What I would like to see is an alliance of traditional monarchists in Japan and Indonesia. This could be done in a way similar to what was done in the past. I would like to see special schools established in Japan to educate and train the princes of Indonesia who could then return to their country, prepared to work together to ultimately bring about a restoration of Indonesia as a federal monarchy, perhaps along similar lines to the system employed in Malaysia by the monarchial states there. It would also be nice to see monarchists in Australia cooperate with this movement as well as it would also benefit their country given how much the poverty and instability in Indonesia has been problematic for Australia. If the sons of the princely states of Indonesia could be educated in Japan on the workings of a modern constitutional monarchy, combining new ideas with timeless traditions and how to carry out effective political campaigns, there is no reason such a movement could not effect great and beneficial changes in Indonesia and by which Japan could play a key role in building up a solid bloc of friendly monarchies in East Asia against the growing threat of aggressive republics on the mainland.

Day of Culture, 2014

Today is the Day of Culture in Japan and the occasion was marked by the bestowal of the Order of Culture (文化勲章) on seven individuals by HM the Emperor. These included recent recipients of the Nobel Prize. Six of those honored were able to attend the official ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Dutch Royal Visit to Japan

Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands were welcomed on an official visit to Japan by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. The Dutch Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family have been known for their very close friendship over the years.

Remembering Prince Ito Hirobumi

It was on this day in 1909 that Prince Ito Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan, was assassinated in Manchuria by the deranged Korean An Jung-Geun. The Prince will always have an honored place in Japanese history, having played a crucial role in the establishment of modern Japan. In setting up a new system of taxation, the peerage system, normalizing relations with the Qing Empire and his work to restore order in Korea after the war with Russia, his accomplishments speak for themselves. It is, however, a pity that his assassin is today held up as a hero by bigoted elements in Korea as if he were some sort of hero for independence. The fact that this is mindless bigotry is proven by the fact that the Prince actually opposed the annexation of Korea, fearing it would be too big of a burden on Japan, and preferred it to remain a protectorate while the celebrated murderer of the Prince oddly claimed to revere the Japanese Emperor and to love Japan while his action only accelerated the issue of annexation, being upheld as an example that lawlessness would prevail if Japan did not take control of Korea.

Japan and Canada

TM driven through Ottawa by the RCMP

TM in the Canadian Parliament

TM with Prime Minister and Mrs Stephen Harper

Comfort Women and Useful Idiots

The fight is still going on in Glendale, California over the placement there of a memorial to the Comfort Women by Korean activists. They say it is to remember comfort women of all nationalities but we can see that is a lie because the statue is of a woman in Korean dress and they use these memorials to portray all comfort women as sex slaves that were exploited by the Imperial Japanese Army. This, of course, is incorrect as anyone who does just a little research can plainly see. The comfort women were prostitutes who were paid for their services and while some may have been coerced into service it was usually by their families or Korean agents and certainly not because of Japanese civil or military policy. Of that there should really be no doubt anymore, the facts are clear and plain for all to see. What is worth considering though is why these comfort women memorials are appearing in the United States, in places like California and New Jersey (always in areas with large Korean populations) when this issue had nothing to do with the United States. The answer should be obvious but some do not see it or else have difficulty keeping it in mind.

South Korea has no other reason to put comfort women statues in the United States than to try to spread discord between the United States and Japan. Particularly, they wish to spread anti-Japanese sentiment among the American public so that the American people will put pressure on their elected representatives to draw back from America's staunch support of Japan. The motivation is clear and there is no other explanation for it. From the standpoint of the current geopolitical situation, this makes no sense for South Korea but then neither does the continued antagonism toward Japan. When the greatest threat to South Korean security has always been North Korea and Communist China they should be trying to strengthen ties with all free, non-communist countries. Nonetheless, this is something South Korea has obviously committed to and everyone in Japan, and the United States, should be alert to what their true intentions are and not allow themselves to be duped by this blatant propaganda effort. In this area, South Korea and Communist China have a shared agenda which is to isolate and weaken Japan on the world stage and to use anti-Japanese bigotry as a rallying point for their own people in times of discontent.

This tactic is transparent and easy to see, nonetheless, people in Japan, particularly on the right, must be on guard to not allow themselves to be the "useful idiots" of South Korea and China in this way. After all, these countries do not care what the reasons are for ill-will between Japan and the United States as long as that ill-will exists. They want to encourage it and exploit it and some people in Japan are helping them do it, some purposely (those on the left who do not support their own country) and some inadvertently (those on the right who hold on to past grudges against America). This is to be expected from those on the left, they know what they are doing, they are treasonous and willingly take the side of the enemies of Japan on almost every issue. However, for those on the right, they really should know better and take care not to assist the enemies of Japan by trying to weaken Japan's most important alliance. Already the Communist Chinese have taken advantage of these people and used them as "useful idiots". On Chinese international media and by purchasing time on American media, the Chinese have shown clips from speeches and YouTube videos of people in Japan making verbal attacks or insults against the United States and have shown these in America, putting their own commentary along with it of course.

Some of the most prominent Japanese speakers and YouTube vloggers have had their materials used in this way by the Chinese and they are doing it for the same reason Korea is putting comfort women statues in the United States. The Koreans use the statues to make Americans see the Japanese as wicked people while the Chinese use Japanese video clips attacking America to portray Japan as a false-friend, an untrustworthy ally that hates America. Their goal is the same; to divide Japan and America and weaken the alliance so as to isolate Japan. I wish, I hope, I pray that everyone will be able to see through this tactic and think about what they are doing in the context of the best interests of Japan. Do not be "useful idiots" for Korea and China!

お誕生日おめでとうございます。

Wishing a happy birthday to Her Majesty the Empress today!

A Vision for the Future of Japan

The State of Japan today faces a number of challenges in terms of domestic and foreign policy. In a way, perhaps the biggest problem is a reluctance to address and deal with the most important issues Japan faces. However, if this reluctance can be overcome, I want to believe that there is hope for a bright future for Japan and for a return to a position of leadership in the East Asian region of the world. Probably the most critical long-term issue for Japan is demographic. The death rate is higher than the birth rate and this is causing cultural losses, societal problems and economic problems as the tax base grows ever smaller while the elderly population requiring government support grows massively larger. Unfortunately, when it comes to demographics, there is not much one can recommend in terms of policy. The only solution is the “natural” solution. Because of the ballooning national debt, something will have to be done and it will absolutely involve some pain and hardship to cut unnecessary expenditures. However, my vision for Japan includes some proposals that might help that situation in the long-term.

There must be a cultural revival in Japan to combat what the noted journalist Yoshiko Sakurai called “spiritual statelessness”. As she wrote, “That we Japanese alienated ourselves from the origin of our culture and civilization has been the single biggest cause of this condition that continues to plague us today”. That must be corrected through state action in education and privately in society with campaigns to reacquaint the public with the founding stories and ancient history of the country. There must also be an emphasis on traditional values, particularly family values which, hopefully, would lend itself to encouraging larger families. Obviously, the monarchy would be central to such an effort and this ties in with another major proposal which is constitutional reform. There are many changes that should be made but one that I would highlight is for HM the Emperor to be officially recognized, once again, as the Head of State. Conferring sovereignty would probably be unrealistic in this day and age and may not even be of much practical use but recognizing, in law, the Emperor as Head of State would be a major positive step.

In addition to this, the Self-Defense Forces should be reformed as a formal military (rather than an outgrowth of the police) with the Emperor as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. I have no doubt that virtually every member of the JSDF currently considers this the case in their hearts anyway but it should be made official in law for the sake of cohesion as well as tradition. A constitution that embodies the Japanese spirit and which has its roots in Japanese history and legal tradition is what is called for. Some streamlining would also be extremely helpful to cut through the tangle of bureaucracy that exists today so as to make changes for new situations easier. Certainly if the existing Constitution is to be maintained (as opposed to having a new one which might be just as well) it is essential to make it easier to amend with public support than is currently the case. Too often, the Diet is where ideas go to die, where measures to address a current crisis are strangled or delayed to the point that they are no longer useful by the myriad committees and sub-committees that all proposals have to circulate through. While I would like to see the House of Peers restored, this is probably unrealistic but it should at least be possible to see the old aristocratic titles restored to legal recognition.

As for the peace provision of Article 9, that may be retained. Doing away with it would probably be unrealistic and it is not absolutely necessary anyway. It does provide for taking action in self-defense, it is only that this should be used more energetically and not interpreted as meaning that Japan can never fight no matter what the circumstances. No country should want to be aggressive but there should be no hesitation in taking action against real threats nor should there be any hindrance in coming to the aid of a friend and ally that is in danger. This is largely what the current re-interpretation by the Abe government has been about and that should definitely continue. It would certainly be essential for the vision I have for Japanese foreign policy going forward.

It is based on the proposal made by two Catholic priests, Bishop James E. Walsh and Father James M. Drought who tried to reconcile the United States and Japan in 1940 and 1941. The proposal was for a Japanese “Far Eastern Monroe Doctrine”. My proposal would be slightly different of course, taking into account the considerable changes since 1940, particularly the end of European colonialism. Most simply it would mean that Japan would take a leadership position in East Asia and assume responsibility for safeguarding peace and stability in the region. If any threats arise it would be Japan that would handle them with no interference from outside powers (which would not exclude, of course, requested assistance provided with Japanese authorization). In 1940, the proposal of the two American Catholic priests was aimed primarily at stopping the spread of communism in China. Bishop Walsh was a very experienced missionary in China, understood the threat very well and was, in fact, the last missionary in China after the communist takeover. Today, such a doctrine would be aimed primarily at containing the communist threat as mainland China has become increasingly expansionist. Under this doctrine, Japan would stand ready to contain such aggression and assist any country targeted by the Chinese government.

Obviously, Japan would have to adopt a new and more assertive attitude and strengthen considerably to take on such a responsibility but it is not unrealistic that this could be accomplished. Naturally, China, Russia and Korea would oppose such a doctrine but there is no point in giving them much consideration as they practically oppose Japan simply drawing breath. However, one provision that would hopefully allay fears at least on the part of Korea would be that no existing alliances would be affected by this new policy. That would mean that the United States could retain its current defense agreements with Korea which would hopefully act as a ‘security blanket’ to reassure the South Korean government and mitigate any fears they harbor toward Japan. Long-term, it may also help alleviate tensions particularly on the part of South Korea and Taiwan by emphasizing the necessity of working with Japan for the sake of their national security and the stability of East Asia. As countries such as Mongolia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have all been threatened by Chinese expansion, a strong deterrent force is needed and Japan is uniquely positioned for such a role.

In 1940, the United States did not recognize the danger of communism (as Tokyo did) in China but, although they would never admit it publicly, it has shown by American policy to have realized this was a mistake by supporting Japan and opposing China. So, because of the lessons of history, what America and other western countries would have opposed in 1940, they are willing to support today. This is illustrated by how supportive the United States and Australia have been on the subject of the reinterpretation of Article 9 by the Abe government. If the Japanese public has the will to embrace such a leadership role, there would be no better time to do it. Currently, Japan has in the United States the most militarily powerful country in the world as an ally and so can strengthen the Japanese armed forces (as they should be re-designated) in safety until Japan is fully prepared to take on this responsibility with the support of countries on both sides of the Pacific. Should problems arise with China, Japan, particularly the strong naval tradition and very advanced warships of even the current JMSDF, would be strategically placed to cooperate with Taiwan and the Philippines to cut off the exports that the Chinese economy so heavily depends on. Also, with naval mastery, Japan is ideally placed to respond quickly to a crisis in almost any East Asian country.

The primary goal which must be achieved to bring this about is a change in the attitude of the Japanese public, on both sides of the political divide. The mainstream right seems most prepared but the left must be persuaded to discard the mentality of idealistic pacifism and dependency while the far-right must stop trying to re-fight the Second World War. Both are equally detrimental to Japan moving forward as a leader on the world stage, the one by trying to appease current enemies and ignore the Japanese spirit and cultural heritage, the other by holding on to past grudges that would retain and even encourage the hostility of countries currently unfriendly toward Japan while also adding to that by making enemies of current allies. In the years since 1945 Japan has rebuilt and become one of the most prosperous countries in the world, even with all of the current debt problems still the third leading economy on earth. It is simply improper for a country that has achieved such a level of success to continue to refrain from accepting a position of leadership and responsibility on the world stage.

The possibilities are almost boundless considering what Japan has achieved in the past combined with all the additional potential Japan has today with a much larger economy and far better relations with virtually every major world power other than the Sino-Russian bloc. Japan has a higher GDP than any country other than China and the United States, the Self-Defense Force is one of the most advanced in the world and Japan has a military alliance with the United States and security pacts with Australia and India. There has never been a better time for Japan to begin the move towards a position of regional leadership in East Asia. This, combined with a cultural revitalization of the national spirit would allow Japan to become a world leader in a mature and balanced way that was never attained in the past. The future can be the period of the greatest glory for Japan and all that is required is to strengthen militarily, cut down the debt, reform or replace the constitution, revive the national spirit and have more babies. None of these things are impossible, it is only the will to undertake this challenge that must be motivated.