Extensions of Remarks

21720 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 31, 1984 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD breathtaking to a reporter who last saw this but keep your brains." The Japanese say WELCOME JAPAN'S INCREASED country as the occupation was ending. give me your brains but keep your money." INTERNATIONAL STATUS When I left in 1953, this was still a nation Among the Japan.ese, especially those who with little hope. Many experts in Gen. can recall the MacArthur years, you find an Douglas MacArthur's headquarters doubted almost universal gratitude for what the oc HON. PHILIP M. CRANE that Japan, overcrowded and lacking in nat cupation did for their country. This was OF ILLINOIS ural resources, could become self-sufficient brought home to me when I was called out even in 50 years. Some wondered if democ of the blue by a woman who had read in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES racy could long survive and suspected that Yomiuri Shimbun about my visit. "Fromm Tuesday, July 31, 1984 strident militarism soon would re-emerge. san," she said, "I want to thank you and the The Japan that I found upon my return other Americans in the occupation for what e Mr. PHILIP M. CRANE. Mr. Speak could not be more different from the coun you did for Japan. You planted the seeds of er, the United States would do well to try I left 30 years ago-nor could it more democracy here. Women of my generation remember an old adage when it consid thoroughly refute the gloomy prognosis of will never forget what you did for us." ers Japan's increased strength in the the early 1950s. In fact, the Tokyo that I Similar sentiments were expressed by a international system. knew no longer exists. In its place there is a man with close rural connections: "Japanese As teacher and parent, I know prosperous and bustling metropolis of farmers still remember the days when they there's truth in the phrase, "Imitation gleaming skyscrapers, modish shops and toiled for absentee landlords and had to sell smart restaurants. The sidewalks are crowd their daughters into prostitution to survive. is the highest form of flattery." A ed with businessmen in three-piece suits and They have not forgotten that it was the good parent does not fear the success young men and women sporting the latest Americans who made it possible for them to of his child, but welcomes it. Japan is, New York fashions. Downtown Tokyo re own their own land and to prosper." in a sense, the U.S. prodigy child. Now sembles nothing more than Madison Avenue The young have a somewhat different at she is grown and ready to assume multiplied 100 times over. But there are dif ferences. The streets and subways are clean titude. They take it all for granted, indiffer more responsibility in a free interna and safe. Without a second thought, my in ent to the origins of Japan's current tional market. terpreter traveled to her home in a remote achievements or the contribution of the oc The United States should welcome district by subway at midnight. Violent cupation. A political scientist who has stud Japan's new international economic crime by New York or Detroit standards is ied the long-term impact of the MacArthur status and encourage Prime Minister negligible and declining. shogunate says that young people have ab sorbed American culture and "Japanized" Yasuhiro Nakasone's programs to Everywhere there are signs of the afflu it-a phenomenon that is not new in a coun assert a greater role for Japan in the ence, dynamism and industrial prowess that try that borrowed liberally first from China global system. once seemed forever beyond Japan's reach and then from Europe. "When young men A child's success strengthens a and that today have converted this country into an economic superpower. In the fash and women travel to America," he points strong parental bond. The benefits of ionable Roppongi district of Tokyo, where I out, "they are surprised to find that you in a new mature relationship are mutual. owned a small house, I learned how badly I the United States also have Coca-Cola and Joseph Fromm, an assistant editor had misjudged Japan's prospects: Property 7-Eleven stores. In their minds, these have for U.S. News & World Report who that I had scrambled to sell for $7 ,000 in come to be viewed as Japanese institutions." was in Japan during the MacArthur late 1952, after anti-American rioting rein This picture of contemporary Japan, occupation, wrote a perceptive person forced my worst fears about the future, now which an economist friend in Tokyo calls "a is valued at 2 million dollars. lukewarm paradise," is not by any means al reflection on this topic which I in without its darker side. With more than 50 clude and highly recommend to the at What has brought about this transforma percent of married women now working out tention of my colleagues: tion? In retrospect, it is clear that the Amer side the home, latchkey children and juve icans and the Japanese share the credit for nile delinquency are a worry. JAPAN ASUCCESS STORY FOR AMERICA, Too an economic and political miracle-the Americans for imposing what must have Suicides, traditionally a feature of the ToKYo.-Japan, in the eyes of many Japanese scene, are increasing at an alarm Americans, is turning out to be a Franken been the most enlightened military occupa tion on record, and the Japanese for capital ing rate. More than 25,200 were reported stein's monster unwittingly created during last year, a rise of nearly 19 percent from the years of the U.S. occupation-a formida izing on U.S. magnanimity to build an indus trial democracy on the ashes of their defeat. the year before. A major cause is despera ble economic rival and uncertain ally. That tion among ambitious middle-class men view stems from Japanese industry's chal WHEN STUDENTS OUTRUN TEACHERS unable to meet mortgage payments for as lenge to America and Tokyo's apparent re With few exceptions, democratic reforms tronomically expensive houses. luctance to bear an equitable share of the have succeeded beyond the wildest hopes of common defense. Some Americans complain the occupation authorities who engineered REALISM ABOUT TRADE BARRIERS that the Japanese have forgotten the bene them, largely because the Japanese had de fits that the occupation brought them and Among government officials and business cided from the outset that there was much executives, there is widespread concern over have become cynical about their partner to learn from a nation that could inflict the ship with the U.S. "economic frictions" with the U.S. and dif first military defeat in their history. ferences over Japan's defense role. As the Is this an accurate picture of today's Rather than resist their occupiers, they Japanese are almost totally dependent on Japan? A reporter who covered the occupa embraced the reforms essential to convert imports to feed their industries-a fact tion and has just returned to Tokyo for the Japan from a feudal nation into a modem, driven home painfully by the "oil shocks" in first time in 30 years finds that nothing industrial society-the eradication of a farm 1973 and 1979-they feel extremely vulnera could be further from the truth. system that enslaved the peasants, the lib ble and view export trade as a life-and-death The inescapable conclusion, underscored eration of women from "subhuman" status, matter. by talks with Japanese in every walk of life, the establishment of trade unions, the guar Their greatest fear is of a protectionist is this: One of history's most remarkable antee of universal education through high backlash in the United States and Europe success stories is on display here-a story of school and the introduction of a democratic that would throw up more barriers against success for Americans as much as for Japa political process. their products. While they will bargain hard nese. Since the occupation, the Japanese have every inch of the way, it is clear that Japa The unique relationship forged between continued to learn from the United States nese leaders in the end will make the con the occupying Americans and the conquered and to use that knowledge to outpace their cessions-"the minimum concessions," as an Japanese is alive, strong and likely to last teachers. Observes an American official who American observer puts it-necessary to into the predictable future. It has trans has spent many years in this country and in defuse recurrent crisis over trade. That has formed Japan in ways that are downright India: "The Indians say give me your money been demonstrated in recent 'Weeks by • This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. July 31, 1984 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 21721 agreements concluded with the U.S. to ease CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS take place with no ethnic preference, restrictions against beef and citrus imports QUINCENTENARY COMMISSION but rather as a united Nation. from America and to internationalize the Two years ago, I was proud to stand yen. before this Hall and announce the es Still, it would be a delusion for Americans HON. MARIO BIAGGI to assume that deals such as these will auto OF NEW YORK tablishment of an organization in my matically eliminate Japan's hugh export IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hometown of New York City, the Co surplus. The Japanese, aside from subtle Tuesday, July 31, 1984 lumbus Quincentennial U.S.A.

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