Regarding Robert Dujarric's July 30 article, "Nationalism isn't an issue in Japan": When speaking of "Japan," it is vital to distinguish between those leading the country and those being led. The Japanese populace seems apathetic compared to Koreans and Chinese. The recent South Korean reaction to U.S. beef imports is a perfect example. The South Korean people demonstrated their power to eject a government summarily for kowtowing to America. South Koreans show a strong spirit for overt action that is unimaginable for most ordinary Japanese.
Compare this with the recent one-day fishermen's strike in Japan. After a few days, the Japanese government offered a hefty (concession). We will never hear from those fishermen again. Here we see where Japanese hearts lie.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has pursued nationalism in every way available to it. Of course, military spending seems less than China's or Korea's, because America's military riches will always be available to Japan in return for its outward show of compliance. The love-hate relationship with America may seem to contain Japan, but no effort has been spared to work as nationalistically as possible within the constraints.
However much the government uses camouflage-wrap rhetoric like "beautiful Japan," its ultimate aim is not only to re-establish its autonomy but also to renew its regional dominance. For decades this has taken the shape of economic incursions into every global market it could penetrate. No morality is involved. The only directive seems to be to get a stranglehold on as many resources as possible, as Japan doesn't have any of its own other than a hardworking population that the government seems able to direct to whatever ends it wishes.
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