Go with the flow

I believe that most of the Japanese people value the relationship with the US just like majority of them value the historical relationship with ancient Chinese dynasties. That is partly because Japanese people tend to go with the flow rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. Some Japanese people still have romanticized views about ancient China as if ancient China didn’t have any cold strategic calculation.


At the end of Tokugawa period, the demise of Chinese power caused panic among some Samurais. From there modern Japan was made by following the example of Britain. That was a time when Japanese people decided to go outward with their own will. It was a time not unlike the time when Nobunaga Oda, the medieval leader ruled Japan. From 1868, Japanese people learned almost everything from the west. Japanese students learned from English speaking professors in the newly formed universities.


As one can tell from the books written by Yukichi Hukuzawa it was a time of globalization. It is rather funny to read today’s arguments about English education in Japan since those arguments mirror a century old argument about English education (learning English is necessary for globalization vs. Japanese should just learn proper Japanese).


After the victory of WWI Japan turned toward nativism. In an aftermath of the Great Depression and the protectionism that followed, globalization lost its importance in Japan. When radical nationalists controlled Japanese military Japan got into the war with China and started the disastrous pacific war.


After WWII, there was a time when Japan enjoyed stability under American rule. It was as if the US became a new middle kingdom for Japanese people. Still now Japanese people above certain age view the US like a big brother. From the US side the relationship is the one bounded by contracts (such as the US Japan security pact) designed to counter the expansion of communist nations. It is rather surprising that some Japanese people expect the US to intervene the territorial dispute between Japan and China when the red army is not attacking Japan. I would say that a nation that cannot stand on its own cannot be view as a sovereign state.


In 70’s there was a high hope for globalization and young people were excited about the future when they can go anywhere in the world and be someone (you will see this sentiments in 70’s manga). However Japanese people started to be more inward looking from 80’s (you will see the trend in 80’s love comedies that I don’t like).


As the history shows globalization in Japan can enjoy the public support just for the short period of time. The idea of getting somewhere in the world on our own cannot be that popular among the risk-averse people. In the end nativists can win by taking full advantage of Japanese people’s nature to go with the flow (“nagai mono niwa makarero”).