Excellent essay, Chris. What I always find interesting is that "those in Japan who wish to honour their war dead stretching back to the late nineteenth century" conveniently forget that they were all wars of aggression, or "colonial," "imperialist" wars anyway.
Thanks for reading! You make an interesting point here. I was at the Yasukuni Shrine Museum not long back, and the counter-history on offer there is fascinating. It begins with European colonialism, and frames Japan's activities in the late 19th and early 20th c as a necessary response. Just shows you the complexities here, with historical memory.
This is one of the cases where both "sides" have a point. Japan managed to avoid being directly colonised by the European powers/USA which was pretty much unique in the world outside of the Americas and Europe. That, and the accompanying industrialization, was an impressive achievement. Moreover if you look at the aftermath of the 1895 Sino-Japanese war and the "triple intervention" where France, Germany and Russia basically told Japan to give back almost everything it had gained from beating the crap out of China, you definitely understand why Japan subsequently became increasingly colonial and militaristic itself.
So yes the prior wars were 'wars of aggression, or "colonial," "imperialist" wars' but they were in response to similar acts by others, particularly Russia. That seems to be something that no one seems to mention. If Japan had not got involved then Korea and Manchuria would be part of Russia's far east
Thanks for your comment, Chris. You just reminded me of the visit I did years ago. I think I'm going to resurrect for Tokyo Calling the article I wrote for The Japan Times on the subject.
FWIW I am fairly sure that the majority of Taiwanese do not want to be part of the People's Republic. A decade or so ago that was more questionable, but they have seen the decline of Hong Kong and the Covidiocy and don't want that.
I find it interesting that Taiwan seems to - generally speaking - remember it's period under Japanese control positively and to value a continuing friendly relationship with Japan.
Thank you for your comment and sorry for a late reply here.
I agree, Taiwanese vs Korean memories of Japanese colonisation differ in some fascinating ways. It is so hard to know where things may go next in Taiwan - not least with the war in Iran having the potential to change Chinese plans (or certainly timings) quite significantly.
My own speculation would be that China's leadership doesn't want to wait the time that it would take to shift Taiwanese public opinion in favour of the PRC. Depending on what happens in Iran, we're more likely looking at a naval blockade of Taiwan sometime in the next couple of years, with the Chinese hoping that US public opinion won't stomach an intervention to end it.
Certainly in public, and while serving as PM, yes that's true. Takaichi's mentor, Shinzo Abe, said similar things but only after leaving office. Some say that Takaichi's comments were very far from being a slip of the tongue: she was signalling a hardening of Japan's approach - which we may or may not see in the weeks and months to come.
Excellent essay, Chris. What I always find interesting is that "those in Japan who wish to honour their war dead stretching back to the late nineteenth century" conveniently forget that they were all wars of aggression, or "colonial," "imperialist" wars anyway.
Thanks for reading! You make an interesting point here. I was at the Yasukuni Shrine Museum not long back, and the counter-history on offer there is fascinating. It begins with European colonialism, and frames Japan's activities in the late 19th and early 20th c as a necessary response. Just shows you the complexities here, with historical memory.
This is one of the cases where both "sides" have a point. Japan managed to avoid being directly colonised by the European powers/USA which was pretty much unique in the world outside of the Americas and Europe. That, and the accompanying industrialization, was an impressive achievement. Moreover if you look at the aftermath of the 1895 Sino-Japanese war and the "triple intervention" where France, Germany and Russia basically told Japan to give back almost everything it had gained from beating the crap out of China, you definitely understand why Japan subsequently became increasingly colonial and militaristic itself.
So yes the prior wars were 'wars of aggression, or "colonial," "imperialist" wars' but they were in response to similar acts by others, particularly Russia. That seems to be something that no one seems to mention. If Japan had not got involved then Korea and Manchuria would be part of Russia's far east
Thanks for your comment, Chris. You just reminded me of the visit I did years ago. I think I'm going to resurrect for Tokyo Calling the article I wrote for The Japan Times on the subject.
Yes please - I'd love to read that...!
FWIW I am fairly sure that the majority of Taiwanese do not want to be part of the People's Republic. A decade or so ago that was more questionable, but they have seen the decline of Hong Kong and the Covidiocy and don't want that.
I find it interesting that Taiwan seems to - generally speaking - remember it's period under Japanese control positively and to value a continuing friendly relationship with Japan.
Thank you for your comment and sorry for a late reply here.
I agree, Taiwanese vs Korean memories of Japanese colonisation differ in some fascinating ways. It is so hard to know where things may go next in Taiwan - not least with the war in Iran having the potential to change Chinese plans (or certainly timings) quite significantly.
My own speculation would be that China's leadership doesn't want to wait the time that it would take to shift Taiwanese public opinion in favour of the PRC. Depending on what happens in Iran, we're more likely looking at a naval blockade of Taiwan sometime in the next couple of years, with the Chinese hoping that US public opinion won't stomach an intervention to end it.
Who knows, though...!
I am quite sure that what happens in Iran will impact unification plans. In what direction is currently uncertain
Isn't it true that the new PM went further regarding Taiwan's policy than any other Japanese leader since 1945?
Certainly in public, and while serving as PM, yes that's true. Takaichi's mentor, Shinzo Abe, said similar things but only after leaving office. Some say that Takaichi's comments were very far from being a slip of the tongue: she was signalling a hardening of Japan's approach - which we may or may not see in the weeks and months to come.