Greetings from the JFI!
The weather has been very unpredictable and fickle here in Ontario, but we hope all our friends and colleagues the best this summer. We are very happy to announce that this is the 10th edition of our newsletter. Thank you very much for your continuous support.
Upcoming Events
August 20-21, 2013:
Suntory Foundation’s project “Reexamining Japan in Global Context” will co-host its third forum with the JFI at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, University of Waterloo.
Professors Naoto Nonaka (Gakushuin University) and Benjamin Nyblade (UBC) will be presenting on Japanese and Canadian party politics.
October 4-6, 2013:
The Japan Studies Association of Canada (JSAC) will host its 2013 conference titled “Japan on the Edge” at the University of Saskatchewan. The event is organized by Dr. Carin Holroyd, Department of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan.
Recent Events
May 10 -11, 2013:
David Welch participated in the second forum of Suntory Foundation’s project “Reexamining Japan in Global Context” in Osaka, headed by Professor Masayuki Tadokoro of Keio University. The topic of the event was “Unhappy Japan: Exploring the Sources of Gloom under Peace, Prosperity, and Democracy.” Professors Nattavudh Powdthavee (LSE and University of Melbourne) and Yukiko Uchida (Kyoto University) made presentations on the topic of happiness studies. View the full report and video of the presentations.
We also welcome any brief comment you might have after reading the summary of the May forum. Please send it to us [approximately 200 words] at sh57lee@uwaterloo.ca and it will be uploaded on the “Opinion” section of the Suntory Foundation’s project website).
Japan Watch
The New York Times(July 23, 2013): “The Limits on Nationalism in Japan” by Jennifer Lind
In her latest NYT opinion article, Professor Jennifer Lind argues that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is likely to exercise caution and not openly embolden Prime Minister Abe’s nationalist agenda even after the party’s landslide electoral victory last week. As many experts in and out of Japan have pointed out,the LDP’s victory is mainly due to“ Abenomics,” which has showed promising signs so far for improving Japan’s economy, not necessarily a function of the Prime Minister’s more controversial historical and constitutional agenda. Now that August 15th is approaching, Lind asserts that Mr. Abe’s rhetoric and actions will be restrained since“ nationalism is the last thing Japanese voters want from their government” and since he realizes“ a severe backlash from voters if he steps too far in the direction of offending Japan’s neighbors.”
As Lind correctly points out, there are indeed various voices within Japan concerning historical interpretations that are quite distant from many recent “revisionist” arguments, and as the case of Hashimoto illustrates, overly extreme comments can still be a fast way to lose support in national polls.
Lind argues that the Hashimoto case must have been a cautionary lesson for Mr. Abe and other nationalists, as well as being a source of reassurance for Japan’s neighbours that Japanese civil society will repudiate their leaders’ denial or rationalization of wartime atrocities.
Having said that, it must not be overlooked that there have been indications of the public’s growing tacit acceptance - out of frustration and vicarious satisfaction - of their government’s assertive stance against Japan’s neighbours’ pressure on historical issues in the midst of arising perception of threat in this fast-changing region.
Polls suggest that the public’s moderate stance has little to do with “not offending Japan’s neighbours” and more to do with a realistic concern for Japan’s image and security needs.
