“Japan Is Great”

Volume 15 | Issue 3 | Number 4 | Article ID 5010 | Feb 01, 2017 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus “Japan Is Great” Shirana Masakazu and Ikeda Teiichi Translation by Joseph Essertier Introduction by Nakano Koichi Abstract: media was temporarily dormant in the postwar period, it energetically re-emerged during the 1990s and since then, has become more and more vociferous. But this increase in praise has A "Japan-Is-Great" boom sweeping the nation in not come about merely as a spontaneous recent years invites comparison with the reaction to the decline of self-confidence in the comparable phenomenon in the 1930s at the aftermath of the collapse of the bubble height of empire. This increase in self-praise economy. has not come about merely as a spontaneous reaction to the decline of self-confidence in the The reassertion of national pride and identity aftermath of the collapse of the bubbleby the Japanese has also been actively economy. The reassertion of national pride and encouraged as healthy and desirable by the identity by the Japanese has also been actively United States. As the Cold War came to an end, encouraged as healthy and desirable by the Washington pressured Japan to shake off its United States. As the Cold War came to an end, postwar self-constraints and project its Washington pressured Japan to shake off its influence and political power (even its military postwar self-constraints and project itspower) in international affairs more forcefully. influence and political power (even its military This was demanded of Japan in order to make it power) in international affairs more forcefully. better serve the goals of American foreign policy. (e.g. Michael Green’s “Japan Is Back: Why Tokyo's New Assertiveness Is Good for Washington”). In the United States itself, it has been pointed The original Japanese version appears at the end of this article. out that Ronald Reagan, as president between 1981 and 1989, ushered in a new era of Introduction patriotic language, including symbolically, the sign-off phrase “God Bless America” that has While it is important to note the eerie similarity been standard presidential rhetoric ever since of the “Japan-Is-Great” boom in the media (See here). In Japan, Prime Minister Nakasone today with that of the 1930s, as this article Yasuhiro, Reagan’s counterpart in the 1980s, does, it also bears emphasizing that this is gave new force to the nationalist cause, which hardly a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. As the included not only historical revisionism but also following article indicates, while the self- rearmament, by couching it in rhetoric of congratulatory praise of Japan by the Japanese iconoclastic reformism that claims to confront 1 15 | 3 | 4 APJ | JF postwar taboos, constraints, and conventions On the evening of the 17th of December a four- (See here). hour special was broadcast: “The Japan that Surprised the World! That’s Really Amazing! A To date, the discourses of right-wing leaders of Group of Observers” (TV Asahi). Labeled as both countries continue to echo one another. “Foreign Journalists Want to Tell the World! Donald Trum's call to “Make America Great The Top 50 Great Things about Japan,” they Again” was preceded by Abe Shinzo’s electoral introduced Japan’s trains, toilets, and vending slogan “Take Back Japan.” In his New Year machines.1 Such shows follow a typical pattern Reflections in 2015, Abe reiterated hisof Japan receiving praise from foreign people. determination to “make Japan a country that once again shines on the world’s center stage”; The show is always aired during a one-hour then in 2016 he pledged, “This will be a year in time slot on a Saturday evening. “Having newly which Japan truly shines on the world’s center discovered the ‘wonders of Japan and its stage”; and again in 2017 he reiterated that uniqueness’ that even Japanese did not know “we will hoist the flag of Proactive Contribution about, this is a variety show that will make you to Peace even higher and make Japan shine in love Japan even more.” The show is promoted the center of a worldwide stage.” thus. According to the Video Research Company (Bideo Risaachi Sha of the Kanto It matters greatly that Japan is not just “great” Area), the average ratings for this show are but that it is recognized as such by the world, 12.9 percent, the seventh highest rating in the and by the United States in particular. It category of “Other Entertainment Programs remains to be seen whether Abe’s “patriotic” after ‘Shōten’ (Nippon TV) and “Bura Tamori” fervor will be deemed sufficiently supportive of (NHK).”2 US military goals in the eyes of Trump who declared his inauguration a National Day of During the new years holidays the “Great” Patriotic Devotion. Trump would certainly programs are in full bloom. For 29 December, demand from the Japanese no less than Tokyo TV Tokyo has scheduled a three-hour special serving Washington’s interests first and entitled “The World! Cheering on People Who foremost. NK Want to Go to Japan,” entailing close coverage 3 “Japan Is Great” of foreigners who adore Japan. On 3 January, a two and a half hour special by TV Osaka will be 4 Once again this year television and books are waiting for us. It is entitled “A Head Family, filled with “Japan-Is-Great” praise. From Japanese Style,” reaffirming what is good about traditional culture to high technology,Japan through culture and human feelings. everything is great. The special new years holiday programs that TV stations energetically Japan worship has arrived in the world of promote make it possible to see Japan worship publishing, too. In the Kinokuniya ranking of on parade. But wait a moment. What is waiting shinsho (small-sized paperbacks) in the last 30 in line ahead of the self-intoxication? The other days, eighth place is held by The Ministry of day in “Ranking of Japan in Terms of Broadcast Finance and Leading Newspapers Have Freedoms,” the reputation of Japan’s mass Concealed It: The Japanese Economy is Tops in 5 media continued to drop steadily. In wartime the World (Kodansha). The eleventh-ranked Japan, the “greatness of Japan that shines book is Japan Just Like Switzerland: The throughout the world” was emphasized and, Wealthiest Country in the World (also not long afterward, that greatness collapsed. Kodansha).6 In November and December, books The “Great” boom is again divorced from like this came out one after another, with titles reality. (Shirana Masakazu, Ikeda Teiichi) such as Japan, Foreigners Cry Out with 2 15 | 3 | 4 APJ | JF Admiration: The World Yearns for Nippon Mr. Iwashita feels that a crisis is underway in (Takarajimasha) and Why “Japanese are about which the mass media submerges itself in Brand Value”: Why the People of the World narcissism. “Their goal has become confirming Hanker after Japan (Koumyou Shisou Sha).7 what they want to be said. It is extremely dangerous that they cannot see themselves Is the “Japan-Is-Great” boom the reverse side of objectively.” society being closed and individual people blocked out? Does it show that the confidence “The Flip Side of Not Having Confidence” of Japanese people has returned? Or is it a reflection of anti-foreignism and bigoted The media's praise for Japan is not new. nationalism? According to the most recent Editor Hayakawa Tadanori, who is also the “Japanese Consciousness” Opinion Poll (2013) author of the book The Dystopia of “Japan Is conducted every five years by the NHK Great”: the Genealogy of Singing One's Own Broadcasting Culture Research Institute (NHK Praises in Wartime (Seikyusha, 2016), points hōsō bunka kenkyūjo), the percentage of people out that “The expression ‘Japan-Is-Great’ has who replied that “Japanese are extremely roots in the 1931 Manchurian Incident.” capable compared to the people of other countries” was 67.5 percent while those who Given impetus by the Manchurian Incident [in thought “Japan is a first-rate nation” was 54.4 1931], the Japanese Government worsened its percent, an increase since the 2008 opinion isolation from the international community by poll.8 such actions as the 1933 withdrawal from the League of Nations and setting out a According to the analysis of Professor Oto comprehensive framework of government Yoshihiro, scholar of media studies at Sophia centered around the emperor. Mr. Hayakawa University, “Japanese viewers choose programs writes, “With the mass media of the time that present Japan in a positive light, in the beginning to suspect that the next trend in context of a closed society where individual Japan would be Japanism, it proceeded to spew people are blocked out.” out PR publications emphasizing that “Japan, the country of the gods, is great!” Elsewhere, Mr. Iwashita Yu, the secretary of “Booklovers against Racism” (whose name in When we look at titles in magazines, books, and Japanese is “Heeto supiichi to haigaishugi ni the like, we find a kind of glorification that is katan shinai shuppan kankeisha no kai” or the embarrassing: “Society for People in Publishing Who Do Not Engage in Hate Speech or Anti-foreignism”), “What is great about Japan is this...” traces the starting point for the “Great” Boom “A Study of the Greatness of the Japanese” to March 11, 2011.9 “The Rise of Japan, Empire of Genius” “Japanese technology was dealt a severe blow by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, but “A Declaration of Japanism” people did not want to forever be dragged down. Books spreading anti-Korean sentiment Just as in the recent boom in “Japan-Is-Great,” got their start then as part of a persecution examples of foreigners extolling the virtues of complex.

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