Japan's neo-nationalistic rightwing is its own worst enemy. It sees itself as the defender of Japan's global reputation. But by its own actions it besmirches that reputation.
A good example was the recent Yoshihisa Komori affair -- when severe criticisms by that well-known, rightwing correspondent for the right-leaning Sankei Shimbun forced Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend publication of a magazine carrying an article slightly critical of Tokyo's fixation on visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
Heavily reported in the Washington Post and elsewhere, the global image of Japan sliding into rightwing doctrinairism strengthened another notch.
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