Japan's rising right-wing nationalism

Vox
26 May 201707:45
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script explores the resurgence of nationalism in Japan, contrasting the revisionist history taught in some textbooks with global perspectives. It delves into the downplaying of war crimes, such as the Nanking Massacre and the comfort women issue, and examines the influence of right-wing groups on Japanese politics. The script also contrasts Japanese nationalism with Western populism, highlighting the establishment roots of figures like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the symbolic importance of the Yasukuni Shrine in shaping the nationalist narrative.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The script discusses a politically biased Japanese history textbook that downplays or disputes historical events like the Nanking Massacre and the exploitation of 'comfort women'.
  • 🌏 The textbook reflects a broader trend of revisionist history and rising nationalism in Japan, which aims to reshape the narrative of the country's past.
  • 👴 The publisher of the textbook is a group of older Japanese men who are part of a lobbying society pushing for a different historical perspective in Japanese education.
  • 🎭 Makoto Sakurai, the public face of the Japan First Party, represents a faction that parallels nationalist movements in other countries, advocating for a return to Japan's pre-World War II strength.
  • 🏆 Despite not winning elections, the Japan First Party and similar nationalist groups have influence, with some members holding positions in the government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
  • 🚛 Nationalists in Japan are known for promoting the restoration of Japan's past glory, advocating for a strong military, and pushing for policies like deporting Koreans and limiting immigration.
  • 💥 The script contrasts the nationalist movements in Japan with those in the U.S. and Europe, noting that while there are similarities, the Japanese movement lacks a populist leader from outside the establishment.
  • 🕊️ The Yasukuni Shrine is highlighted as a symbol of nationalist sentiment, honoring those who died in wars under the emperor, including war criminals, thus sparking controversy.
  • 🗝️ The post-World War II narrative in Japan, as presented by nationalists, views the trials and convictions of war criminals as an emotional backlash rather than impartial justice.
  • 🌐 The script suggests that while there are parallels in the rise of nationalism globally, the Japanese context is distinct, with establishment figures leading the movement rather than populist outsiders.
  • 🔮 The future of Japanese nationalism, as suggested by the script, seems to be more about reinforcing existing power structures rather than a radical upheaval by a figure akin to Donald Trump.
Q & A

  • What is the significance of the Japanese history textbook mentioned in the script?

    -The textbook is significant because it presents a politically skewed version of history, differing from the global understanding, particularly in its treatment of events like the Nanking Massacre and the issue of 'comfort women'.

  • How does the script describe the portrayal of the Nanking Massacre in the Japanese textbook?

    -The script describes the portrayal as downplaying the event, referring to it as the 'Nanking Incident' and focusing on disputing the facts rather than acknowledging the atrocities.

  • What is the 'comfort women' issue mentioned in the script, and why is it significant?

    -The 'comfort women' issue refers to the forced recruitment of Korean women to serve in Japanese military brothels during World War II. It's significant because the textbook omits this part of history, which is a major controversy and a dark chapter in Japanese wartime history.

  • Who are the publishers and writers of the textbook, and what do they represent?

    -The publishers and writers are a group of older Japanese men who are part of a lobbying society aiming to push an alternative historical narrative into Japanese schools, representing a rising nationalism in Japan.

  • What is the Japan First Party, and how does it relate to the textbook's historical narrative?

    -The Japan First Party is a nationalist political group in Japan that shares the textbook's revisionist historical views, advocating for a return to Japan's pre-World War II greatness and influencing current policies.

  • What is the connection between Makoto Sakurai and the Japan First Party?

    -Makoto Sakurai is the public face of the Japan First Party, representing its nationalist views and being a key figure in promoting the party's agenda.

  • How does the script describe the nationalist movement's agenda in Japan?

    -The script describes the nationalist movement's agenda as seeking to restore a strong military, advocating for the deportation of Koreans, limiting immigration, and promoting a return to Japan's imperial past.

  • What historical period does the nationalist movement in Japan focus on, and why?

    -The movement focuses on the 1860s, known as the Meiji Restoration, when Japan rapidly modernized, became an economic and military powerhouse, and began its expansionist policies, which they view as a golden age.

  • What is the significance of the Yasukuni Shrine in the context of Japanese nationalism?

    -The Yasukuni Shrine is significant as it memorializes those who died in wars under the emperor, including war criminals from World War II. It serves as a symbol of nationalist pride and a focal point for revisionist historical views.

  • How does the script differentiate the rise of nationalism in Japan from that in the U.S. and Europe?

    -The script differentiates by highlighting that in Japan, the nationalist movement is led by establishment politicians like Shinzo Abe, rather than outsider populists as seen in the U.S. and Europe.

  • What is the script's final observation on the comparison between Japanese nationalism and similar movements in the West?

    -The script concludes that while there are similarities in the rise of right-wing nationalism, the context and leadership in Japan are fundamentally different, suggesting that a 'Japanese Donald Trump' scenario is unlikely in the near future.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Revisionist History in Japanese Textbooks

This paragraph discusses a politically charged Japanese history textbook that presents a controversial version of historical events. It glosses over the Nanking Massacre, referring to it as the 'Nanking Incident' and questioning its facts, while completely ignoring the issue of 'comfort women' forced into service during the war. The author visits the publishers, a group of influential Japanese men aiming to alter historical narratives in education. The paragraph also introduces Makoto Sakurai and the Japan First Party, drawing parallels with nationalist movements globally, including a focus on Japan's pre-WWII era and its rapid rise to power, which led to alignment with Nazi Germany and eventual defeat.

05:13
🏯 Nationalism and the Yasukuni Shrine Controversy

The second paragraph delves into the complexities surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine, a site commemorating Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals. It explores the differing narratives of post-WWII Japan, where some view the shrine as a symbol of national pride and sacrifice, rather than a site of war guilt. The paragraph examines the nationalist perspective that the post-war tribunals were biased and not an impartial justice exercise. It also contrasts the rise of nationalism in Japan with that in the U.S. and Europe, highlighting the absence of a populist figure in Japan's case, and noting the establishment roots of figures like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Japanese history textbook
A 'Japanese history textbook' is an educational resource used in Japan to teach students about the country's past. In the context of the video, it is described as 'political,' implying that it presents a biased or revisionist view of history. The textbook glosses over or disputes events like the Nanking Massacre, reflecting a nationalistic perspective that aims to reshape historical narratives.
💡Nanking Massacre
The 'Nanking Massacre' refers to the mass killing of Chinese civilians by Japanese troops during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Internationally, it is recognized as a war crime, but the video script notes that the textbook in question minimizes this event, referring to it as the 'Nanking Incident,' which illustrates the textbook's revisionist approach to history.
💡Comfort women
'Comfort women' is a term used to describe the women, primarily from Korea, who were forced to provide sexual services to Japanese soldiers during World War II. The script points out the absence of this significant historical issue in the textbook, which is another example of how history is selectively presented to fit a particular nationalist narrative.
💡Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that emphasizes national identity and the promotion of a country's interests. In the video, 'Nationalism' is portrayed as a rising force in Japan, with groups and politicians advocating for a return to Japan's pre-WWII strength and glory, often at the expense of historical truth and international relations.
💡Japan First Party
The 'Japan First Party' is mentioned as a political entity that parallels the 'America First' sentiment seen in other countries. The video suggests that despite not winning elections, the party and its ideology represent a nationalistic trend that is influencing Japanese politics and policy.
💡Shinzo Abe
'Shinzo Abe' is the name of Japan's Prime Minister at the time of the video script. He is noted for surrounding himself with nationalist advisers and ministers, indicating that nationalist ideologies are not just on the fringe but are part of mainstream political discourse and decision-making.
💡Yasukuni Shrine
The 'Yasukuni Shrine' is a controversial site in Tokyo that honors those who died in wars for Japan, including war criminals from World War II. The script describes it as a symbol of nationalist sentiment, where the glorification of the imperial past is emphasized over an apology for wartime atrocities.
💡Imperial period
The 'Imperial period' refers to the era when the Japanese emperor held significant power, particularly before and during World War II. Nationalists in the video script advocate for a return to this period, viewing it as a time of strength and prosperity for Japan.
💡Populism
'Populism' is a political approach that often positions itself as representing the interests of ordinary people against the elite. The video contrasts this with the nationalism in Japan, where figures like Shinzo Abe are establishment politicians rather than populist outsiders.
💡War crimes tribunals
The 'War crimes tribunals' following World War II were international trials that prosecuted individuals for war crimes. The script suggests that some Japanese nationalists view these tribunals as biased and not an impartial exercise of justice, which influences their perspective on historical events and figures.
💡Right-wing
'Right-wing' generally refers to political ideologies that advocate for conservative, nationalist, or authoritarian policies. In the video, right-wing groups are shown as promoting a revisionist history and advocating for policies that include military strength and restrictive immigration.
Highlights

The Japanese history textbook glosses over the Nanking Massacre, referring to it as the 'Nanking Incident' and disputing the facts of the event.

The textbook omits mention of the 'comfort women', hundreds of thousands of Korean women forcibly brought to serve in Japanese war brothels.

A group of old Japanese men from a lobbying society is pushing a different historical narrative into Japanese schools, with some success.

Makoto Sakurai, the public face of the Japan First Party, shares a nationalistic message similar to 'America First'.

Nationalists in Japan, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, have influenced policy with their fringe group ideologies.

Nationalists advocate for the restoration of Japan's pre-World War II greatness, including a strong military and limited immigration.

The nationalist movement in Japan is fundamentally different from populist movements in the U.S. and Europe, as it is led by establishment politicians rather than outsiders.

The Yasukuni Shrine is a controversial symbol of nationalism, memorializing war criminals and glorifying the imperial period without acknowledging atrocities.

Some Japanese view the post-WWII tribunals as an emotional backlash rather than impartial justice, leading to a different narrative about the country's war history.

Nationalists in Japan yearn for a return to the 1860s, when the Emperor had significant power and Japan rapidly became an economic and military powerhouse.

Japan's aggressive expansion in the early 20th century led to alignment with other imperialist powers.

Transcripts

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Japanese HistoryNanking IncidentComfort WomenNationalismRight-WingEducationMakoto SakuraiShinzo AbeYasukuni ShrineWorld War IIPopulism