Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0979
January 4, 2010


New Year’s Day Editorials Discuss Prospects for 2010

On January 1 Japan’s major newspapers all carried lengthy New Year’s Day editorials discussing prospects for 2010. The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial stated that “Without a national strategy, Japan will be left adrift” and emphasized “political leaders’ responsibility for guiding the nation through this critical time.” Focusing mainly on the national security problem, the Asahi Shimbun editorial questioned the meaning of the Japan-US alliance and commented, “. . . this is a good opportunity to discuss from a long-term perspective the importance and difficulty of maintaining the alliance.” Describing 2010 as a year of reconstruction, the Mainichi Shimbun editorial asserted, “Enhancing communicative power will lead to Japan’s reconstruction.” In the first of a series of editorials on the theme of “responsibility to the future,” The Nikkei called for “quick action” because “this decade is going to be decisive” for bequeathing prosperity, peace, and a healthy global environment to our children and grandchildren. In lieu of an editorial the Sankei Shimbun carried a piece by Chief Editorial Writer Keiichiro Nakashizu under the headline “At the beginning of the year.” Nakashizu called on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to get through the current difficult situation with a “spirit of patriotism” rather than “fraternity.” The following are summaries of the newspapers’ commentaries:

The Yomiuri editorial began by saying that “the nation’s lack of political direction and ongoing economic stagnation inspire fear rather than expectations in people and bring a sense of resignation rather than hope.” “The primary reasons,” it noted, “stem from Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s administration not only lacking the sort of mid- and long-term national strategy needed to maintain peace, prosperity and a safe, secure society, but also its failure to clearly show the people the course that the nation should take at the moment.” “Without a national strategy,” the Yomiuri warned, “Japan will be left adrift on the rough seas of global politics.” It said emphatically, “Our political leaders must shoulder the responsibility for guiding the nation through this critical time and present a bold national strategy to do so.” The Yomiuri also noted, “For Japan . . . maintaining amicable Japan-US relations on the basis of the security alliance should be a fundamental part of the national strategy. In spite of this, Hatoyama’s words and deeds touting his vision of an East Asian community and aimed at distancing Japan from the United States could potentially endanger the alliance.” It cautioned, “For this country, weakening its alliance with the United States and seeking a fifty-fifty bilateral relationship is not a realistic option” and “Japan must look at the whole issue from the standpoint of basing peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region on efforts to step up relations with the United States, with which this nation shares such values as democracy, a respect for human rights, freedom of thought and creed.”

Noting that “This [Japan-US] alliance marks its 50th anniversary this year,” the Asahi editorial said positively, “Tokyo’s decision to astutely combine the bilateral security treaty committing the United States to the defense of Japan with this country’s war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution has given the Japanese people a great sense of security.” It added, “If used wisely, based on common understanding that allied nations sometimes conflict over national interests, the Japan-US alliance will maintain its importance and benefits.” The Asahi also observed, “Japan-US relations are strained. This is due partly to the inept diplomacy of the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. But this is a good opportunity to discuss from a long-term perspective the importance and difficulty in maintaining the alliance.” The Asahi added, “Tokyo and Washington must swiftly secure close and effective communications between political leaders of both countries over assessments of the global strategic environment, the minimum necessary deterrence and the burden-sharing for such deterrence,” “The benefits that the bilateral alliance will continue to bring are far greater than the political and other costs of maintaining the alliance,” and “What [Japanese] politicians should talk about is a grand vision for using the bilateral alliance for the benefit of Asia and the rest of the world while strengthening it.”

Comparing the present search for Japan’s reconstruction to the establishment of the nation’s capital of Heijo-kyo (in present-day Nara) in 710 (this year marks the 1,300th anniversary of that event), the Mainichi editorial stated, “The half-century leading up to the establishment of the capital of Heijo-kyo in 710 was a period in which Japan overcame a major crisis and achieved national reconstruction” and “Heijo-kyo can be described as the symbol of a grand strategy to build the country, secure national defense, and create culture.” Based on the recognition that “The Nara period [710–794] was the most internationally open age in Japanese history” and “Heijo-kyo had great communicative power,” it noted that “enhancing communicative power and drawing attention to Japan’s attractions will also lead to domestic vitality.” The Mainichi continued, “Deepening the Japan-US alliance, which is the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy, is essential for increasing communicative power. It is necessary to restore firmness to the Japan-US relationship of trust, which is being strained by the Futenma problem. It is also necessary to expand cooperation with emerging powers like China and India and Asian countries like South Korea.” It concluded, “Enhancing communicative power will lead to Japan’s reconstruction. Let’s build a country in which people have hope for the future.”

The Nikkei editorial declared, “Is it not the case that our present generation is enjoying prosperity and peace at the expense of our children’s and grandchildren’s generation? We must solve the problems that we have created ourselves by ourselves. That is our responsibility to the future.” It proclaimed, “We want 2010 to be the first year for thinking about Japan’s future.” “In order to realize sustainable fiscal and social security systems,” The Nikkei said, “the present generation should come up with solutions regarding pensions, medical benefits, insurance premiums, taxes, and so on.” Regarding national security, The Nikkei observed, “It is important to be prepared to think again about the meaning of the Japan-US alliance from the perspective of the future.” It also remarked, “If they can realize a framework for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that embraces such large emitting countries as the United States and China, the major developed countries can greatly change their industrial structures and begin new growth toward a low-carbon society. Japan, which has great technological strength, will be in an advantageous position in this respect.” The Nikkei also urged, “Ten years from now people aged 65 years or older will account for 29.2%---nearly 30%---of the population. This decade is going to be decisive. We should think carefully about how to safeguard the lives of the young generation and future generations and take action quickly.”

In the Sankei Shimbun, Chief Editorial Writer Nakashizu commented that “The word ‘patriotism’ has not been used for a long time now [in Japan]” and “Patriotism means love for one’s country. I believe that by forgetting this spirit, the Japanese have lost something important.” Noting that “the foundation of the nation is melting away,” he said with concern, “Japan’s security must not be forgotten. The deterrence of the US military has maintained this country’s peace and prosperity. If that deterrence is lost, there will be a vacuum. And forces will appear to take advantage.” Referring to the fact that at the end of last year Prime Minister Hatoyama mentioned deterrence in relation to the problem of the relocation of the US Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, Nakashizu remarked critically, “The prime minister appears to be aware of the problem, but he still has not reached a decision that protects the peace and security of the Japanese people.” He added, “It is only the prime minister who can carry out the supreme duty of government, which is to protect the people and realize the national interest. I hope that he overcomes the current difficult situation with a ‘spirit of patriotism’ rather than ‘fraternity.’”

(Copyright 2010 Foreign Press Center, Japan)

*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.