Remember! The history can repeat itself. The dreadful nightmare of Japanese holy war can happen again. May God save Korea !

Joseph H. Chung, Ph.D. (정희수), Professor of Economics, Quebec University in Montreal (UQAM)

(지난 호에 이어)

1.5 Washington-Tokyo Complicity

There is another factor which pushes Japan to contemplate another holy war. It is the relationship between warmongering Washington and Japan's NMRG led by Kishi Nobuske - Shinzo Abe line political and economic force.

In fact, the Washington-Tokyo complicity can be a big factor for the return of pre-1945 Japan. The following is some aspects of such complicity.

First, Washington seems to encourage Japan's remilitarization.

WSJ: Patrick McCabe wrote "Japanese remilitarization is nothing more than Beijing narrative."

Kurt M Campbell Biden's top advisor said "Japan's constitutional reinterpretation and military modernization is Chinese propaganda." (quoted:auth.jacobinmag.com/2021/10/)

Second, Japan's lobbying campaign looks very effective. The following statement attests to it.

"American strategists are taken in by a far-right charm offensive (of Japan) and fail to understand their danger of what they are toying with" (ibid)

"The US foreign policy staff have deep connection to Japanese hawk thin tanks including the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS) and the Center for A New American Security (founded by Kurt Campbell).

Third, However, there are voices warning Washington's encouragement of Japan's remilitarization.

"Any movement committed to preventing war and building transnational solidarity must consider the threat of Japan's remilitarization and United States' role in encouraging it, empowering and arming Japan's far right could be worst mistake in the pivot to Asia yet." (Gabriel Rodrigues, auth.jacobinmag.com/2020/10)

Fourth, But, Washington needs Japan to share the burden of containing China.

"Washington wants Japan to ensure that the United States doesn't shoulder the burden of policing the seas alone…and come to the United States aid in a possible military confrontation with China." (foreignpolicy.com: August 15, 2015)

Ned Price, White House spokesman was quoted.

"We also value Prime Minster Abe's assurance of Japan's interest to expand its contribution to international peace and prosperity in years to come." "But in East Asia where the memory of Japan's behaviour during World War II still rings fresh, it is anything but." (foreignpolicy.com: August 15, 2015)

As far as I am concerned, Washington's reliance on Japan for its hegemonic battle against China is needed because of the failure of other existing measures. Since the Obama era, Washington has been trying to contain and bash China through Asia-Pivot, TPP, CPTPP, Quad, AUKUS and several bilateral trade or security alliances and partnerships, but none has worked to Biden's satisfaction. This is one of the reasons for asking Japan to play more proactive role in the containment of China.

Thus, Washington's invitation to Japan to play more roles in the Sino-American hegemonic war is an important factor for Japan's preparation for war.

"It is important to know that the US-Japan alliance is for good of Asia" (Shinzo Abe quoted by KBS Documentary, September 30, 2006)

This means that the joint hegemonic rule by Japan-U.S. is good for Asia. Is Abe sure that Asian countries share such imperialistic view of his?

"Without the aid of Japan, the US cannot assure security cooperation in Asia" (High ranking official of the US Department of Defence, KBS Documentary, September 30, 2006)

To sum up, Washington encourages Japan to be ready for the proxy war, while Japan welcomes this opportunity for realization of its dream of restoring the power and glory of pre-1945 imperial and military Japan.

1.6 Japanese People's Submissiveness

There is another factor which facilitates Japan's war readiness. It is the relationship between the Japanese leaders and the Japanese people.

The relations between the elite leaders and the ordinary Japanese people are akin to what I call the "Samurai-Peasant relations". We see often in movies and history books the absolute authority of Samurai over peasants. It is reported that, during the Tokugawa Era, the Samurai represented about 10% of the population.

But, 90% of the population were utterly powerless vis-a-vis mere 10% of the population of Samurai. In such situation, the Samurai looked down the peasant as inferior and sub-human. The current situation is not very different. The elite leaders are behaving like Samurai, while the ordinary Japanese people are acting like peasants.

Listen to what Professor Nakano had to say about the way the leaders think of the ordinary people.

"They (leaders) think that the kids and adults are being brainwashed by themselves blame and sense of shame in their history. They are romantic, they are irrational. They live their own world so they lack strategic thinking." (Professor Koichi Nakano Sophia University)

If the people feel guilty for what Japan did during WWII, they are rational, not irrational; it should be rather the elite group who should feel guilty. Since they do not feel guilty, they are irrational.

It is certain that the people being rational would object another holy war. Unfortunately, their view will be totally ignored, because the leaders (Samurai) ignore the wish of people (peasant).

An incidence which dramatically illustrated the Samurai-Peasant relations took place during the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2019. The world saw that 90% of the Japanese people were asking the government to abandon the Olympics or postpone it. But the government of Suga completely ignored the people' wish.

Professor Kobayashi was urging the people to stop the remilitarization of Japan. (다음 호에 계속)

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