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Home › Forums › Core Seminars › Modern East Asia, Fall 2021 › 3. October 23 U.S.-Japan Relations and Japan Today
Kayla Kolean.
cgaoThis workshop has three presenters. For each, please watch or read the materials in advance of the workshop. Please also raise questions or comment below. As always, our focus is on strengthening general understanding of Japan today and imagining ways that you can take up these issues in your own classes.
1. Prof. Kazuto Suzuki, University of Tokyo
He has recorded two lectures which are below. The first is on Japan's political system and the second is on U.S.-Japan relations. During the workshop, Prof. Suzuki will take questions based on these two talks. He won't give the lectures again.
2. Prof. Tom Le, Pomona College
Prof. Le will give his presentation live during the workshop. Prior to the workshop, please read these three selections (and raise questions or comment if you like).
Click here to download a pdf of his presentation.
3. Prof. Amy Borovoy, Princeton University
Prof. Borovoy will give her presentation live during the workshop.
Suzuki, lecture 1
Suzuki, lecture 2
Jennifer MacchiarellaRE lecture 1 - I found it very interesting that one reason LIDP stays in power is that Japanese citizens trust experience. This seems to be in direct opposition to the American candidates who declare "I'm not a politician." While I always appreciate a person new to politics running for a small town city council or even the state legislature, I also prefer politicans who have experience. In what other field do we want people without experience running things. Hmm - well, school boards aren't often teachers, but other than that we expect experienced doctors and engineers. I was curious if there are any age demographics about party support. Does Professor Suzuki expect the system to undergo any significant change in the next 20 years?
Todd RutleyWhen I teach about China, I encourage students to read Chinese news directly online as homework. I recommend government media sites such as People’s Daily, Global Times, and CGTN. For more media savvy students, I would encourage them to follow people on twitter such as Hu Xijin or Hua Chunying. I explain that these sources are voices of the CCP but they must be listened to understand the views of the CCP/PRC. Hu Xijin, editor of the CCP outlet Global Times, is very outspoken and thus interesting and entertaining.
To increase students understanding of Japan I would recommend the following Japanese websites.
https://english.kyodonews.net/
My primary goal in recommending online news and video is always to encourage students to be motivated to want to learn about Japan and China and the rest of east Asia. In particular, I want to encourage students to READ AND THINK for themselves.
I also recommend Chinese YouTube channels like CGTN – China Global Television Network
Anything that gets students interested in self-motivated learning is good!
Todd RutleyI use the images/PPT pages attached below to try to explain the the current military situation between the US, Japan, and China. Since 2012, China has increased the frequency of its claims over the Senkaku islands - I refer to these islands by their Japanese name because the US recognizes these as Japanese territory. The PRC naturally prefers Diaoyudao, islands China claims are its "inherent territory".
This article excerpts puts the military relationship in context:
“Here's What It Costs to Keep US Troops in Japan and South Korea”*.
"The United States spent more than $34 billion to maintain military presences in Japan and South Korea between 2016 and 2019, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released March 17, 2021... “In Japan alone, the U.S. maintains more than 55,000 deployed troops…
Nine experts consulted by GAO researchers said that the U.S. sees several benefits to national and regional security from having troops stationed in its closest allies in Asia, including maintaining stability in the region and deterring aggression from adversaries such as China, Russia and North Korea. However, a few experts cautioned that there are drawbacks to the deterrence mission there, most notably that it makes U.S. troops vulnerable to a potential first strike from an adversary…The experts all agreed that U.S. troops' presence bolsters the alliance with Japan and South Korea, and that the nations are reassured by America's willingness to place its own service members in harm's way…
However, the opposition to U.S. troops held by some local residents complicates efforts to maintain the alliances, some experts told GAO. The U.S. military presence might not be politically sustainable in areas such as Japan's Okinawa, that have particularly strong feelings against troops being stationed there, experts said.”
References
http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/en/index.htm. 4/27/2021. China opens Museum dedicated to the disputed islands.
Benefits and Costs Associated with the U.S. Military Presence in Japan and South Korea https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-270
U.S. Relations With Japan. https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-japan/
clay dubeProf. Suzuki highlights the importance of article 9 of Japan's constitution. He notes LDP interest in changing it and opposition party commitments to article 9. The Library of Congress has a booklet devoted to article 9.
The text of article 9:
Some lesson plans tied to the article:
Foreign Policy Research Institute (2016 examples)
University of Kansas NCTA
Todd RutleyAfter a period of rapid economic and population growth from the 1950-1980s, Japan's "economic miracle" came to an end around 1990. Since then there has been a growing trend of buildings being abandoned, especially in rural areas which have the greatest depopulation. Abandoned buildings include homes, stores, hotels, amusement parks, schools and government buildings.
Exploring modern abandoned ruins (Haikyo) is the Japanese version of "urban exploration". Just google haikyo and you will see many examples.
Buying a Cheap Abandoned Country House in Japan
Given the ongoing population decline, there are more properties coming to the market every year. Most Japanese dislike the older rural homes...which creates opportunities for others.
One enterprising American expat and Japan resident, Alex Kerr, has purchased some abandoned country homes and restored them authentically for use as guest lodges. He purchased the beautiful Iya Valley house for almost nothing; he only had to agree with the village that he would restore, not destroy, the house.
See his restored properties here: www//alex-kerr.com/html/chiiori_trust.html
If you are tired of the American scene and high cost of housing, maybe you too could live like Alex Kerr in rural Japan!
References
https://www.yahoo.com/now/more-8-million-empty-homes-103413523.html
https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/japanese-government-giving-away-abandoned-homes
https://www.insider.com/japan-ghost-towns-population-vacancy-rates-akiya-banks-2021-6
Todd RutleyIn her October 23 lecture, Professor Amy Borovoy reviewed Japanese demographics and the government policies that are being implemented to try to slow the ongoing population decline.
In the attached note I reflect on this presentation based on my own experiences and sources of economic-demographic research that are included in the references.
What is the Teaching Relevance of this and how to use in a classroom?
Many of the United Nation’s 193 members will experience population declines in the next 100 years. The US population will also start to fall if immigration is ever stopped. These population trends will require changing government policy responses in many areas. These are challenges that your students will have to consider throughout their lives.
Todd RutleyProfessor Amy Borovoy teaches a course called “Mind, Body, and Bioethics in Japan”. One of her papers related to this course is “Beyond Choice: A New Framework for Abortion?”. Her paper takes an "anthropological approach" which is intellectually deeper than the typical demography research because it attempts to understand the cultural background to observed phenomenon.
Reading this paper reinforced my view that the Japanese “baby bust” will continue and the population will inevitably fall as forecast by the United Nations.
Continued in PDF.
Jennifer MacchiarellaI was very interested in the descriptions of Japanese military recruitement and how the focus is on public service as opposed to the cool guns and machinery so common in American recruitement ads. My senior English class has a unit focusing on advertisement; we usually look at how ads within America have changed over time and from print to TV to online, but this would be an interesting addition. With a few exceptions, my students see the military as a way to pay for education or access training for a blue-collar job. Most do not see it as a viable career option. Do Japanese recruits get the same kind of educational benefits as American soldiers?
Jennifer MacchiarellaI found Professor Borovoy's presentation on the role of the Japanese woman an interesting comparison to Mrs. America, the Hulu show about Phyllis Schafly and the Equal Rights Amendment. The show deals with the tension between women who want more rights in the workplace and society at large, and women who are concerned that their roles as wives and mothers were being denegrated. The idea that in Japan the homemaker and mother is a respected role, even as the govenrment tries to get more women into the workforce, shows a different way of looking at career paths. The reasonably priced availability of child-care, and the high pay and training of the child-care workers, was also initially surprising. I guess if a society values children, as American society CLAIMS to do, they need to support all children. So many people seem to have a difficult time seeing the long-term benefit of raising children in calm, stress-free environments, with parents who can work to provide for them. How much less would we spend on later interventions if all children were able to start life this way?
Antonette PelaezIs there hope for Japan? In my own opinion, Yes, absolutely. Japan’s current leaders can guide the country to take achievable steps in solving its ongoing economic and social problems. And also I personally believe that Japan should open up themselves to the world for a new and better change.
Question: How can a nation having the third largest economy in the world develop such problems?
Based on the lecture of Prof Tom Le, Japan today faces multiple crises. Its economic and social status had been greatly affected over the years by various factors including shrinking birthrate, aging society, decreasing working-age population and dwindling exports. In my own opinion, I think there could be an ongoing “domino effect and cycle” happening in Japan. First, the shrinking birthrate is caused by higher rate of unmarried women. Basically this is due to more and more women are joining the work pool, therefore, many are turning away from the concept of having traditional families and motherhood. And then the result of prolonged period of low fertility is….aging society. So, when there is a gradual decline in work force population this can eventually lead to stunted labor force.
Its sad to say that I have seen on television plenty of You Tube videos about aging and aged situation of men and women living by themselves in an apartment or homes wherein there are no other people reaching out to them to assist on their daily needs.
And also another problem is the country’s dwindling export. Generally, as discussed in the lecture, this problem is caused by Japanese companies that are being outperformed by Korean, Chinese and US competitors. However, they may be outperformed but in fairness, the quality of Japanese products are better than other countries.
Jennifer MacchiarellaThe pictures you shared reminded me of some I have seen of Detroit, where abandoned blocks are reclaimed for farm land and urban gardens. (https://www.vice.com/en/article/aea7za/turning-derelict-buildings-into-an-urban-farm-in-detroit) I also have read articles about the people that buy the houses for 1euro in Italy and have to remodel them. (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-cheap-home-buyers-tips/index.html) While I realize the Japanese areas are abandoned due a decrease of population, I like the idea of comparing demographic movements between countries. My class has just started discussing the Industrial Revolution and how, in the long run, urban populations have better access to services. Cities are much more effiencent for transportation, medical care, school, etc.
Betsy UresStudent groups will each read one of the essays and provide a summary along with a visual representation of the main idea of the essay.
Group 1: Homemaker Opinion
Group 2: University Student Opinion
Group 3: Environmentalist Director
The essays are good examples of different views toward the different types of potential constitutional amendments. Students can identify the main takeaways and create a visual-video, presentation, drawing, etc. to represent the essay. Then they can present to the whole class. Students will discuss the different perspectives and identify which is the most agreeable to them. This will allow for student engagement.
In a follow up to this interactive lesson, the teacher can present the process for Constitutional Amendments in Japan and the current polling data on whether Japanese citizens want to amend or not. An informal poll can be conducted in class once students are clear on the process and the current levels of support for amending the Japanese Constitution based on polling data.
Betsy UresI have been thinking about the comments from Professor Borovoy about the concept of women being valued and respected for their domestic and community service in Japan, as opposed to the way stay-at-home mothers are viewed in America. The need for our government and society to support women in being an engaged community member and mother/domestic worker (if that is preferred to traditional employment) is vast. I have just started reading Reflections on Tsuda Umeko- Pioneer of Women's Education in Japan and I hope to get insight into how Women's education played a role on this topic.
Todd RutleyShinzo Abe was the Prime Minister of Japan and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006-2007 and from 2012-2020. The LDP is the dominant political party in Japan and has held office in all but 5 years since its 1955 founding.
Abe wanted to revise the Japanese constitution that was imposed on Japan by the US during the post WW2 US occupation. However, he left office in 2020 without achieving any changes.
Why was Article 9 NOT Changed During Shinzo Abe’s Term of Office?
1. Constitutional changes are hard. The 1947 Japan constitution has never been revised, in part, because of the high-level of consensus required to make changes. Constitutional changes require 2/3 support in the Diet and followed by majority public support in a referendum. So, even if the LDP could gain support of 2/3 of the Diet members, it would still have to convince the public to support the change.
2. Public is unlikely to support changes in required referendum. Long-term polling cited below has shown that the majority of Japanese people are opposed to revising the constitution, despite electing the LDP almost continuously since 1955.
3. Japanese people fear war. MIT Professor John Dower says the public is opposed to constitutional changes because of the bad memories of WW2 which saw 66 Japanese cities bombed and destroyed by the US. This traumatic historical experience has made many Japanese people strongly anti-war.
References
John Dower C-Span interview “Post-War Japan: Cultures of Defeat, Cultures of Conflict” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZAFftGl9Kk
Opinion Polling on Article 9 Revision. https://www.cfr.org/japan-constitution/public-attitudes-on-revision
https://www.cfr.org/blog/early-postwar-attitudes-constitutional-revision
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1950_usjapan.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html
Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II Illustrated Edition, John W. Dower
https://verdict.justia.com/2020/09/02/shinzo-abes-biggest-failure-is-his-greatest-legacy
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/japan-article-9-conundrum-rears-its-head-again