From: aoki@physics.ucla.edu (ken aoki)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.china,soc.culture.hongkong,soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Japanese gov't --- was (Re: An open letter to the Emperor Akihito of Japa)
Summary: Japanese politicians are the three monkies.
Keywords: Japanese politicians, voiceless
Date: 27 Aug 92 23:39:38 GMT
Followup-To: soc.culture.japan
Organization: UCLA Department of Physics

In article <1992Aug27.210708.17263@Princeton.EDU> karchang@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Kar Man Chang) writes:
>In article <1992Aug27.055806.18241@Princeton.EDU> wohfuchi@splash.Princeton.EDU (Wataru Ohfuchi) writes:
>   [stuff omitted]
>>
>> I have a feeling that Japan loses many things by behaving as she does.
>>For example, by refusing to apologize or to compensate war victims, the
>>Japanese government loses real respect from other countries. Actually,
>>not only the government, but the Japanese people suffer the loss.
>>Even though the treaties we already discussed might justify the refusal,
>>obviously it is not a very wise idea.
>>  Now maybe Japan wants to lead a really good project in international
>>relations. Japan, however, would get negative reactions from other
>>countries, no matter how good the project is.
>>
>>...Wataru
>
>I think you hit the nail on the head here. Japan has become an economic
>giant, but its political influence is not as strong as its economic
>influence.  I think its history during WWII plays an important role
>in this.  Just by trying to forget everything about WWII and without
>owning up to what it did, the effects of the war will always be a
>dark shadow within Japan itself and between Japan and its neighbours.
>
>I don't think you can blame the voters for not changing the government
>or influencing the politicians on this matter.  It is probably not an
>important issue at all within Japan.  What Japan needs is politicians
>with a world vision.  Without satisfactorily handling the aftermath of
>the war, Japan probably will not get the kind of support it hopes to 
>get from its East Asian neighbours.
>

Not to say that the above observations are incorrect,
I think the problem is more general than that.

On just about anything, I feel that the Japanese politicians
make very few definite statements and mumble all the time. 
eg. 'mae-muki ni kentou shite mimasho' (which means 
'we will consider this in a positive light' !??). so typical.
As long as the WWII issue does not become a big issue
somewhere they will keep on ignoring it or duck under hoping
it will go away. (Except the right wingers doing their thing 
and the left wingers doing their thing.)

I think the major reason the Japanese politicians have not
had much global influence is that they cannot make a clear stand on
any issue. Until they can admit the wrongs and stand up when
they are right, they cannot play a major role. This I think
is also true of Japanese companies to a certain extent.
You can call it Japanese culture; I don't like it one bit,
which seems to be not so uncommon these days.

Btw, this is not only true of negative aspects like WWII atrocities but
I think there have also been some accusations and misunderstandings
(eg. economic) that could have been defused had 
the Japanese politicians issued clear statements saying this is BS. 

It's amazing that anything gets done, but I guess this is
done by the beaureaucrats.
Just my private observation.    follow-up to scj.
-- 
                        Kenichiro Aoki. aoki@physics.ucla.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan