Week 4 - Naomi Almanzor

Question: Identify and explain the three characteristics that helped define Japan’s reconstruction development plan post WWII.

Japan’s reconstruction plan emphasizes the intertwining topics of international relations, economic growth and maintenance, and national stability and security.

While under the Yoshida doctrine, Japan’s initial avoidance toward international affairs allowed them to achieve economic stability post WWII. However, Japan’s reliance on foreign resources established the importance of international interdependence. The Koizumi doctrine led Japan to place more representatives in international organizations and sign economic partnerships with other nations, cementing its place as a contributor to international affairs, increasing their worldly influence, and thus strengthening their structural power. Because of their start as a very enclosed nation, I came to appreciate their progression to a more cooperative stance.

Being the exporters of products from cars to electronics to menswear, Japan’s exports are diverse and unique enough to be successfully distributed internationally, but their processes of production are placed in different regions in Japan to keep their technological expertise more exclusive. This maintains their competitiveness in the global economy and their economic distance. Reforms in education have also been made to encourage and train more citizens to contribute to the technological industry and assist in maintaining Japan’s lead in that field.

The ‘cultural purity’ that Japan initially experienced under the Yoshida doctrine was a result of their defensive stance for national security. But due to a ‘declining standard of living,’ the Koizumi doctrine drove Japan to be more open to foreigners to assist in their workforce and maintain decent conditions, and as a result, national tranquility (Mun, 2007).

The concept of Copycat Modernity can be seen through Japan’s copying of the American style and the formation of Japan’s own American-influenced style, Ametora (Fernandez, 2015). I also think that Japan’s progression into a more cooperative and technologically advanced nation is also evidence of this, being relatively more similar to hegemonically dominant Western countries than before. Malaysia and other Asian countries utilize this concept also, as described through the “flying geese” model (Mun, 2007).

I found it interesting that most nations so far have desired an image that is strictly theirs, while Japan’s method for revamping parts of their image rested on copying another’s, especially since they had spent such a long period of time focused on self-improvement.

Currently, Japan seems to be suffering from domestic issues such as unsteady employment, which may contribute to falling birthrates due to being able to support a family. Authorizing regulations or establishments that give more job security and reasonable working conditions may help this part of the population.

My Question:

Given that many nations seem to desire a more personalized image, would establishing an image through ‘copycat’ methods harm more than heal a nation, even if said methods were beneficial to a nation in certain domestic aspects? 

I found it interesting and slightly amusing picturing troops trained for battle building snow sculptures. I decided to satiate my curiosity and look it up, and I was both surprised and impressed!

Sources:

Image: https://www.insidejapantours.com/experience-japan/i-fst5-13/sapporo-snow-festival-/

Fernandez, C. (2015, December 2). How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion in Japan. Fashionista.

Mun, T. S. (2007, January). Japan's Grand Strategic Shift from Yoshida to Koizumi: Reflections on Japan's Strategic Focus in the 21st Century. pp. 117-136.

Semuels, Alana. “The Mystery of Why Japanese People Are Having So Few Babies.” The Atlantic,        July 20, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/07/japan-mystery-low-            birth-rate/534291/.