Japanese Politics Thread

[Shrillland]

Is there actually a political platform in Japan to become China's best buddy/junior partner/vassal/etc, or are all political camps united in being wary of the PRC?

All the major camps are opposed, yes. Even the JCP despises undemocratic communist states. Only the LDP's Heisei faction support any kind of rapprochement, but they've been suppressed by Abe's Seiwas.

[Novus America]

I think Kono sounds the best because he would be more likely to repair ties with South Korea. Of course, the leaders of the opposition parties might be even more favorable towards South Korea, but we would have to wait for a general election for one of them to come to power.

The problem is that Kono's Asia-centrism is at odds with the rest of the LDP, who value their relationship with America a lot more.

Which is only logical. The US is far more useful to Japan.
Although I would like Korea and Japan to reconcile, to do it at the cost of US Japanese relations makes no geopolitical sense for Japan whatsoever.

[Aureumterra]

Asian politics has little to do with ideology like in the West, and has much more to do with nationalism, and the history of the region. This is why Mongol quasi-fascism and anti-Chinese sentiment is so common, or the Vietnamese rivalry with China even though both are nominally communism.

Sad! Why must people so mired in petty ethnic hatreds and unable to band together for the greater good. I would be willing to support any Japanese politicians who are willing to challenge this sort of mentality. We really need something like a NATO or EU for East Asian democracies.

This is Western geopolitical thinking there, from an Asian perspective, the Japanese nation is more important than Democracy, or the Vietnamese state is more important than communism, which is why they maintain longtime rivalries with countries of the same ideology. Asia cares little about ideology, ethnicity and nationalism supersede everything else there, including the history of these ethnic groups.

[Bienenhalde]

The problem is that Kono's Asia-centrism is at odds with the rest of the LDP, who value their relationship with America a lot more.

Which is only logical. The US is far more useful to Japan.
Although I would like Korea and Japan to reconcile, to do it at the cost of US Japanese relations makes no geopolitical sense for Japan whatsoever.

The US is useful insofar as it has a strong military and a strong economy, but it mostly lacks the Confucian values and cultural traditions of East Asia. Also, the US is friendly towards South Korea anyway, so I don't see why Japan and South Korea being friendly would be bad for the US.

[Novus America]

Which is only logical. The US is far more useful to Japan.
Although I would like Korea and Japan to reconcile, to do it at the cost of US Japanese relations makes no geopolitical sense for Japan whatsoever.

The US is useful insofar as it has a strong military and a strong economy, but it mostly lacks the Confucian values and cultural traditions of East Asia.

And Japan cares much more about the US military and economy than common “Confucian values” and “cultural traditions”. Those things do not put food on the table or win wars.

And actually you are often most bitter enemies with countries of similar culture and history. As you both want to be the dominant one in those areas, and ally with different culture and traditions is actually often less of a threat as you are not competing for the same cultural space.

South Korea has relatively little to offer Japan. It already has its own culture anyways, it hardly needs South Korea to reinforce its own culture.

[Bienenhalde]

The US is useful insofar as it has a strong military and a strong economy, but it mostly lacks the Confucian values and cultural traditions of East Asia.

And Japan cares much more about the US military and economy than common “Confucian values” and “cultural traditions”. Those things do not put food on the table or win wars.

And actually you are often most bitter enemies with countries of similar culture and history. As you both want to be the dominant one in those areas, and ally with different culture and traditions is actually often less of a threat as you are not competing for the same cultural space.

South Korea has relatively little to offer Japan. It already has its own culture anyways, it hardly needs South Korea to reinforce its own culture.

Neither South Korea nor Japan can dominate East Asia on their own as long as they continued to be overshadowed by the PRC.

[Novus America]

And Japan cares much more about the US military and economy than common “Confucian values” and “cultural traditions”. Those things do not put food on the table or win wars.

And actually you are often most bitter enemies with countries of similar culture and history. As you both want to be the dominant one in those areas, and ally with different culture and traditions is actually often less of a threat as you are not competing for the same cultural space.

South Korea has relatively little to offer Japan. It already has its own culture anyways, it hardly needs South Korea to reinforce its own culture.

Neither South Korea nor Japan can dominate East Asia on their own as long as they continued to be overshadowed by the PRC.

Indeed, but they cannot do it together without conflict either. South Korea is more a competitor in that regard to Japan than the US is.

I mean on theory if Japan and South Korea reunified as on country they would be more powerful than separate, but still
nothing compared to the PRC.
But even that is obviously not in the cards, because the last time it was Japan forcing it on Korea. Which is the only way it could be done.
Which Korea did not like.

[Bienenhalde]

Neither South Korea nor Japan can dominate East Asia on their own as long as they continued to be overshadowed by the PRC.

Indeed, but they cannot do it together without conflict either. South Korea is more a competitor in that regard to Japan than the US is.

I mean on theory if Japan and South Korea reunified as on country they would be more powerful than separate, but still
nothing compared to the PRC.
But even that is obviously not in the cards, because the last time it was Japan forcing it on Korea. Which is the only way it could be done.
Which Korea did not like.

Like I said before, I can get why Korea doesn't trust Japan. I find it harder to understand why the Japanese dislike Korea. I mean, I guess there was racist propaganda against the Koreans back when Japan colonized them, but are modern Japanese seriously still dumb enough to believe that sort of nonsense? Apologizing for Nazism and embracing centrist democracy worked well enough for Germany, why can't Japan do the same thing?

[Novus America]

Indeed, but they cannot do it together without conflict either. South Korea is more a competitor in that regard to Japan than the US is.

I mean on theory if Japan and South Korea reunified as on country they would be more powerful than separate, but still
nothing compared to the PRC.
But even that is obviously not in the cards, because the last time it was Japan forcing it on Korea. Which is the only way it could be done.
Which Korea did not like.

Like I said before, I can get why Korea doesn't trust Japan. I find it harder to understand why the Japanese dislike Korea. I mean, I guess there was racist propaganda against the Koreans back when Japan colonized them, but are modern Japanese seriously still dumb enough to believe that sort of nonsense? Apologizing for Nazism and embracing centrist democracy worked well enough for Germany, why can't Japan do the same thing?

A agree Japan’s insistence of going with extreme historical revisionism over the the German route (which does actually involve some historical revisionism like grossly exaggerating German resistance to the Nazis but that offends fewer people) is stupid, but it is a pride thing.
More than a hatred thing. I do not think it is because they deliberately want to troll Koreans, just they are two proud to admit to being wrong.

Although I do think they view Korea as a competitor in the cultural sphere as well.

[Bienenhalde]

Like I said before, I can get why Korea doesn't trust Japan. I find it harder to understand why the Japanese dislike Korea. I mean, I guess there was racist propaganda against the Koreans back when Japan colonized them, but are modern Japanese seriously still dumb enough to believe that sort of nonsense? Apologizing for Nazism and embracing centrist democracy worked well enough for Germany, why can't Japan do the same thing?

A agree Japan’s insistence of going with extreme historical revisionism over the the German route (which does actually involve some historical revisionism like grossly exaggerating German resistance to the Nazis but that offends fewer people) is stupid, but it is a pride thing.
More than a hatred thing. I do not think it is because they deliberately want to troll Koreans, just they are two proud to admit to being wrong.

Although I do think they view Korea as a competitor in the cultural sphere as well.

I mean, I guess mere arrogance is better than outright hatred, but it still seems like an obstacle to defeating the PRC. I hope there is at least someone in Japanese politics who is sympathetic to my views.

[Saiwania]

A agree Japan’s insistence of going with extreme historical revisionism over the the German route (which does actually involve some historical revisionism like grossly exaggerating German resistance to the Nazis but that offends fewer people) is stupid, but it is a pride thing.
More than a hatred thing. I do not think it is because they deliberately want to troll Koreans, just they are two proud to admit to being wrong.

I don't think I agree with the Germany approach at all. I'd go so far as to say that a meme could perhaps be made of the Chad Japan which is proud of their own history (even the bad portions) vs. the Virgin Germany that is ashamed of their past to such an extent that they still let it interfere with their present day politics when there are a lot of things to like about WW2 Germany in that the era wasn't all bad for German citizens (before they were losing).

Whether a country was "right or wrong" is mostly just a matter of perspective asides from any established facts.

[Novus America]

A agree Japan’s insistence of going with extreme historical revisionism over the the German route (which does actually involve some historical revisionism like grossly exaggerating German resistance to the Nazis but that offends fewer people) is stupid, but it is a pride thing.
More than a hatred thing. I do not think it is because they deliberately want to troll Koreans, just they are two proud to admit to being wrong.

I don't think I agree with the Germany approach at all. I'd go so far as to say that a meme could perhaps be made of the Chad Japan which is proud of their own history (even the bad portions) vs. the Virgin Germany that is ashamed of their past to such an extent that they still let it interfere with their present day politics when there are a lot of things to like about WW2 Germany in that the era wasn't all bad for German citizens (before they were losing).

Whether a country was "right or wrong" is mostly just a matter of perspective asides from any established facts.

Right or wrong aside, it is bad foreign policy from a realpolitik perspective. Japan gains far more from improving relations with Korea, the Philippines and even the US than from this senseless wanking.

Wanking about how Chad and based you are is not likely to make friends.

[West Leas Oros 2]

Can't say I was all that big of a fan of him, but I wish him luck nonetheless.

My question lies in who will take the reins with him out?

[Shrillland]

Can't say I was all that big of a fan of him, but I wish him luck nonetheless.

My question lies in who will take the reins with him out?

At this point, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is all but assured the leadership.

[New haven america]

A agree Japan’s insistence of going with extreme historical revisionism over the the German route (which does actually involve some historical revisionism like grossly exaggerating German resistance to the Nazis but that offends fewer people) is stupid, but it is a pride thing.
More than a hatred thing. I do not think it is because they deliberately want to troll Koreans, just they are two proud to admit to being wrong.

I don't think I agree with the Germany approach at all. I'd go so far as to say that a meme could perhaps be made of the Chad Japan which is proud of their own history (even the bad portions) vs. the Virgin Germany that is ashamed of their past to such an extent that they still let it interfere with their present day politics when there are a lot of things to like about WW2 Germany in that the era wasn't all bad for German citizens (before they were losing).

Whether a country was "right or wrong" is mostly just a matter of perspective asides from any established facts.

Well that's because you're an admitted and open racist, so...

[HXVZ-07031017]

I don't think I agree with the Germany approach at all. I'd go so far as to say that a meme could perhaps be made of the Chad Japan which is proud of their own history (even the bad portions) vs. the Virgin Germany that is ashamed of their past to such an extent that they still let it interfere with their present day politics when there are a lot of things to like about WW2 Germany in that the era wasn't all bad for German citizens (before they were losing).

Whether a country was "right or wrong" is mostly just a matter of perspective asides from any established facts.

Well that's because you're an admitted and open racist, so...

Saiwania, will you be happy if Russia is proud of their history of communism and the genocide of Ukrainians? I don't think so. Why should this be any different? After all, fascism and communism are just different flavors of authoritarianism, not much of a difference.

[New Carthagea]

Well that's because you're an admitted and open racist, so...

Saiwania, will you be happy if Russia is proud of their history of communism and the genocide of Ukrainians? I don't think so. Why should this be any different? After all, fascism and communism are just different flavors of authoritarianism, not much of a difference.

This.

[Xiaodong]

Can't say I was all that big of a fan of him, but I wish him luck nonetheless.

My question lies in who will take the reins with him out?

At this point, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is all but assured the leadership.

Where are you hearing that? All English-speaking news sources point to Suga Yoshihide having the factional numbers to clinch the leadership.

[San Lumen]

Can't say I was all that big of a fan of him, but I wish him luck nonetheless.

My question lies in who will take the reins with him out?

At this point, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is all but assured the leadership.

Shame it will be yet another man and woman isnt even in consideration

[-Ra-]

At this point, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is all but assured the leadership.

Where are you hearing that? All English-speaking news sources point to Suga Yoshihide having the factional numbers to clinch the leadership.

Almost like it's a crowded field and we don't know yet because they haven't had the damned election yet.

[Xiaodong]

Where are you hearing that? All English-speaking news sources point to Suga Yoshihide having the factional numbers to clinch the leadership.

Almost like it's a crowded field and we don't know yet because they haven't had the damned election yet.

Only three people have announced their candidacy (Ishiba, Suga and Kishida Fumio) with the other likely candidates having mostly stated they aren't running. Not exactly a crowded field.

[Shrillland]

At this point, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is all but assured the leadership.

Where are you hearing that? All English-speaking news sources point to Suga Yoshihide having the factional numbers to clinch the leadership.

Ah, that's different. If Suga has most of the factions behind him, then he's got it.

[Kowani]

Suga Yoshihide has been selected as the new Prime Minister of Japan

[Shrillland]

Suga Yoshihide has been selected as the new Prime Minister of Japan

Suga wins, and the LDP's policy of political stasis continues unabated. Though I wouldn't be surprised if he calls an election before the year's out just to cement his acclamation.

[Ansarre]

Shame. Content with the status quo though.