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News & ArtsTuesday, September 1, 2009
International The Future of Japan
Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 8:43 AM
In his NYT letter, Yukio Hatoyama, the presumptive prime minister of Japan, makes points that are encouraging and points that are troubling.
TOKYO — In the post-Cold War period, Japan has been continually buffeted by the winds of market fundamentalism in a U.S.-led movement that is more usually called globalization. In the fundamentalist pursuit of capitalism people are treated not as an end but as a means. Consequently, human dignity is lost.This part, the rejection of unrestricted global capitalism, is encouraging.
In terms of market theory, people are simply personnel expenses. But in the real world people support the fabric of the local community and are the physical embodiment of its lifestyle, traditions and culture. An individual gains respect as a person by acquiring a job and a role within the local community and being able to maintain his family’s livelihood.This part is troubling. Why? Because all of this talk about communities, lifestyles, and culture suggests that the solution to neoliberalism is a return to pre-capitalists practices and social formations.
There is also something racial in this assertion:
Another national goal that emerges from the concept of fraternity is the creation of an East Asian community. Of course, the Japan-U.S. security pact will continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese diplomatic policy.This does not sound good at all, this talk about what is basic to being Japanese. Turning inward and turning your back to a the world that is defined as not being basic to the essence of the Japanese sense of self—this is nothing but going backwards, a retreat, a hiding in the woods. But the truth is this: There is no going back to those small communities, little livelihoods, and local cultures. As much as I reject neoliberal capitalism, it has transformed all of us into something new, something other than what we were 40 years ago. The past is no longer with us in any real way. To go back to the past is it to invent the past and believe that it is what it is not: a part of the past. We must seize who are now and act creatively (in the Whitehead sense of that word) on this reality. Japan needs to be exposed to the shock of immigration.But at the same time, we must not forget our identity as a nation located in Asia. I believe that the East Asian region, which is showing increasing vitality, must be recognized as Japan’s basic sphere of being.
1
I suspect it's not so much looking "back" as looking West -- toward China. For the last 50 years Japan has looked to their East for markets, profits, status and approval. All those things they can now find in the West.
Their West, that is.
Their West, that is.
2
I think there's some truth to that (Japan needing to be exposed to true immigration), and to an extent there is an element of that in place already. I have an expatriate friend living over there right now. He isn't allowed citizenship or all the benefits of being Japanese, and he is required to carry identification with him at all times, but he is allowed to be with his family.
Japan couldn't allow immigration as it currently exists. The state is already having problems providing benefits for its existing population. Adding an immigrant population to the mix would just put that much more strain on it. In addition, there are other concerns that would need to be taken into consideration (negative population growth, overall economy, quality of life/happiness, etc.)
Japan couldn't allow immigration as it currently exists. The state is already having problems providing benefits for its existing population. Adding an immigrant population to the mix would just put that much more strain on it. In addition, there are other concerns that would need to be taken into consideration (negative population growth, overall economy, quality of life/happiness, etc.)
3
I personally would like to be a member of a local community, rather than be a "means" to gobalization. And the United States of America seems to see itself as its own nation and culture. While diversity may be a value in America, I don't see any American politicians promoting the dissolution of America or its culture.
4
Japan is not interested in immigration.
Really, really, really not interested.
There are a small number of folks there who are part-Korean - - descended from prisoners/slaves in a war that was about, oh, 300 years ago! -- and they're considered to be not-really-Japanese. Last I heard (operating off of fuzzy memory for all of this) they were relegated to a low caste of trades like streetsweeper or mortician.
The up side to their racism? (so to speak)
They think everybody there is Japanese and one of the gang! So they have zero qualms about giving a decent education to every child and health care to every citizen. I can guarontee you from my bunker here deep in red state land that one of the big obstacles to us funding education or health care for all in this country is the perception that "they", you know, "them", don't deserve such things. Not really Americans, in the eyes of the good, decent people of the heartland, the real Amurricans.
The other up side to Japans' xenophobia is that they kept the west at arm's length during the great colonialist expansion. How do you think they wound up with a giant navy and airforce and taking over that part of the world in the 30's? No "help" from those who wanted to bring the Freedom. (They then sallied forth and visited awful, racist acts upon other Asians, but hey, that's all in the past, and hopefully, not in their future.)
They are as far from us as can be on these issues, and they're not about to bring in immigrants just to prop up the payroll taxes to support the welfare state.
Hell, they can't even admit that they are descended from folks who paddled over from Korea.
Really, really, really not interested.
There are a small number of folks there who are part-Korean - - descended from prisoners/slaves in a war that was about, oh, 300 years ago! -- and they're considered to be not-really-Japanese. Last I heard (operating off of fuzzy memory for all of this) they were relegated to a low caste of trades like streetsweeper or mortician.
The up side to their racism? (so to speak)
They think everybody there is Japanese and one of the gang! So they have zero qualms about giving a decent education to every child and health care to every citizen. I can guarontee you from my bunker here deep in red state land that one of the big obstacles to us funding education or health care for all in this country is the perception that "they", you know, "them", don't deserve such things. Not really Americans, in the eyes of the good, decent people of the heartland, the real Amurricans.
The other up side to Japans' xenophobia is that they kept the west at arm's length during the great colonialist expansion. How do you think they wound up with a giant navy and airforce and taking over that part of the world in the 30's? No "help" from those who wanted to bring the Freedom. (They then sallied forth and visited awful, racist acts upon other Asians, but hey, that's all in the past, and hopefully, not in their future.)
They are as far from us as can be on these issues, and they're not about to bring in immigrants just to prop up the payroll taxes to support the welfare state.
Hell, they can't even admit that they are descended from folks who paddled over from Korea.
5
Echoing other comments, Japan really isn't interested in immigration and it can be tough at times.
The most common argument for Japan's xenophobia-racism (it's pretty much the same thing here) is that we'd lose traditional culture without it. "Sure, no one will rent an apartment to us, but at least we still have geisha!"
That doesn't mean I hate Japan. I love it, or else I wouldn't be here. But there's often a code of silence about this in the immigrant community.
Right now... I'm cautiously optimistic. Not necessarily because of the specifics of the party change-over, but because people have finally started to care enough about changing things. I do think Obama does have something to do with it, believe it or not. People who don't speak a word of English can recite the catchphrase, "Yes we can!" It was even used to advertise a brand of (CANned) coffee.
The most common argument for Japan's xenophobia-racism (it's pretty much the same thing here) is that we'd lose traditional culture without it. "Sure, no one will rent an apartment to us, but at least we still have geisha!"
That doesn't mean I hate Japan. I love it, or else I wouldn't be here. But there's often a code of silence about this in the immigrant community.
Right now... I'm cautiously optimistic. Not necessarily because of the specifics of the party change-over, but because people have finally started to care enough about changing things. I do think Obama does have something to do with it, believe it or not. People who don't speak a word of English can recite the catchphrase, "Yes we can!" It was even used to advertise a brand of (CANned) coffee.
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