ZOOM OUT!

After having to deal with the most politics related books ever in my life, I couldn’t help but question why I had to read almost all the same things over and over again. I tried to keep an open mind as I skipped from one book to another and back just in case I was missing out a point or two hidden between the lines. At times, I would even get stuck in a page reading it over and over again realizing that all it wanted to point out was how different Japanese politics was from that of another country’s. More often than not though I would find myself staring blankly into space hoping to find the reasons as to why such dealt with or had a relation to the film Rashomon. As I continued to read, similarities popped out left and right.

So what do all these readings have in common? Well for the obvious fact that this subject is Japanese government and politics, all 5 including the reading in our “compiled-works book” concerned the history of the Japanese political scenario. Each reading had its own way of perceiving and explaining things. They all had their own unique approach to Japanese politics.

Honestly, reading isn’t really my type of thing so I have to admit that I would sageway to youtube from time to time. I found the trailer of the 1950’s movie Rashomon very interesting. One is because of it being very old which explains why its still in black and white and another because it seemed to be so complexed. I did not understand much of the dialogue to tell you frankly but since actions spoke louder than words and from watching the trailer over and over again I think I somehow got how the story flowed. But to understand the film even more I decided to take the extra step and read articles and accounts about it. Yes, I turned to our all time favorite Wikipedia, but just like what we all agreed on I used it as a spring board to have an idea of what the film was all about. This meant reading once again. Wow wow wee.

So what does Japanese Politics have that Rashomon has? What do the 2 have in common? How are these two entities of different sectors related? Let us see.

First we must understand that the movie Rashomon is a story about the misfortune of a married couple wherein the wife was raped and her husband murdered. So you come to question how Japanese politics is related to such a disaster and you come up with the weirdest reasons ever. Such answers I’d rather not mention because of its absurdity. So what then should we do next? Simple, dissect the movie even more. Then you realize that looking at the bigger picture isn’t quite the way to go so you decide to delve deeper into the plot and *tada* you somehow feel that you are getting somewhere. I accidentally overlooked one important thing which at first I thought was not so important. The movie was told from different views. So what now your thinking. Well this is where one and two are finally going to meet. This is where we will come to learn and understand the relationship of Japanese politics and the film Rashomon.

Ready?

Ok. So the whole movie revolved around one story alone and that was all about the raped wife and murdered husband but in order to come to know of such tragedy it was told in four different accounts. These accounts differed in ways which made them unique but in the end boiled down to the main thing. On the other hand, I started off this blog by ranting to you how I dealt with the readings one after the other with an open mind hoping to find some difference amongst them since it all concerned the same thing. And not until just awhile ago I realized that the readings were just like the film not because of the story itself but because of how it was told.

Meiji Era, World War II, bla bla bla all these were constantly mentioned all throughout the context of each material but what I at first neglected soon made its way known to me again, this was HOW it was told and not WHAT was told. Just like the movie which showcased the different perspectives of the ones telling the story, the readings were of such as well.

Believe it or not but this experience; of having to read the most politics-related books in my life ever, taught me an important lesson in life. Honestly it wasn’t so easy to determine such a similarity between the 2 separate and distinct entities because I wasted so much time. I concentrated so much on the content, reading and making personal notes and summaries of each book, that I neglected the simple things which actually pointed out the answer to the question for this blog. In life we too make the same mistake. Sometimes we try too hard that in the end we become our own enemy; complicating our own lives. This is exactly what happened. I was too much on the reading and analyzing that I forgot to actually zoom out of the picture to see how it was told and written. The answer was as simple as this: Japanese politics is similar to Rashomon because of the approaches used to explain the story being told. But no, I had to read read and read. I had to fell stressed. I had to complain. I had to complicate my life. I am not saying that what I did; read, make notes, and summaries, were useless because I really learned a lot and somehow kind of memorized a thing or two from having to deal with the same story over and over again, its just really sad that I dwelled on it too much. As the song goes "too much of something is bad enough...too much of something is just as tough...."

Thanks to this online session I was reminded to let loose. Life doesn’t have to be so complexed because at the end of the day we call our own shots therefore making us the creators of our so to speak destiny. We shouldn’t get intimidated by what we see, hear, or read because life is what you make it to be.

Why oh why? Because!

It was constantly repeated over and over in one of the readings that Japan, in terms of GDP, has the 2nd largest economy in the world. I am honestly not a fan of numbers and equations that is why aside from the explanations written in the chapters I have read, I tried to understand the statement in a simpler manner; a way which does not concern any mathematical whatsoever.


So, how is it that Japan is said to have the 2nd largest economy in the world? Well here is my not so mathematically inclined equation:


If: Economy = business and Business = different companies and firms
Then: economy = different companies and firms


This means that if economy is business, and business means different companies and firms, then Japan is truly a prosperous country and a diverse economy. I guess by now you are wondering why I came to explain Japan’s economy this way and how on earth I got to such an equation. Well, it is plain and simple. I don’t like numbers so I refuse to deal with them here as I have the freedom to speak my mind in any way I possibly can and Toyota, Honda, Toshiba, Sony, and other well known companies around the world happen to be Japanese firms which have been popping in my head. So I put one and two together, added a little bit of stocked knowledge such as how hardworking the Japanese are (that is why such a Japanese term like karoshii exists, which means death due to excessive work), how work seems to be situated in a level higher than family and *tada* my very own explanation and equation.


The aforementioned Japanese firms happen to be very large and popular around the world. It is noticeable right here in our very own country as well, since we actually purchase and use the things they manufacture. There are cars and other motor vehicles by Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota while gadgets and gizmos by Sony, Toshiba, and Sanyo. Their popularity and lasting image I guess lies on their products’ features, durability, and at times friendly and affordable prices which actually uncovers a deeper level of understanding the Japanese. This is no other than how the Japanese are so advanced, innovative, and efficient despite their background and geographical location (Japan is an isolated island and more so for the longest time closed its doors to foreign interaction and opportunities isolating themselves even more).


Therefore, Japan has the 2nd largest economy in the world because of their very well-off businesses which are spearheaded or top notched by leading internationally known Japanese companies.


Wow wow wee! That is exactly what happens when you are trapped within the four corners of your bedroom and restricted to do strenuous activities whatsoever. Four long and dreadful days in bed got me thinking about a million and one things. Random thoughts popped out left and right which sometimes left me dazed and confused. Thousands of questions surfaced as well. I guess that is what really happens when you are bed ridden.


But it just doesn’t end with Japan having the 2nd largest economy in the world (don’t I sound like the book? I keep reiterating the statement haha), its political system also caught my attention. Even if I have been studying about Japan most of my La Salle life, it was just through this online discussion wherein I was given the information about it’s politics. I must admit that I am not so much aware of Japan’s current affairs, I don’t read newspapers nor do I watch the news on television. Truly, it is a conscious mistake and a bad habit I have to break if I want to get somewhere with my education.


Japan has long been ruled by the Liberal Democratic Party; LDP. Created in 1955, the LDP had dominated politics by occupying majority in the Japanese Diet wherein 35 of the 38 Prime Ministers were actual LDP members. Being under a single coalition for almost half its existence, Japan has its own set of ups and downs; advantages and disadvantages.


So being ruled by the LDP for so long makes me wonder if the Japanese ever thought of change, a reform in leadership and not necessarily political structure. Not much has been written in the chapters I read about my concern. If I remember correctly, the video I watched on YouTube states that somehow the Japanese desire for some kind of change but it just isn’t possible as of the moment since there isn’t any practical alternative yet. I wonder how its like to be under the same party for my whole life…


Just like the Philippines, Japan too holds general elections for its main parliamentary house known as the House of Representatives. This gives them the chance to choose their own leaders, which apparently happens to be, more often than not, from the LDP. But that doesn’t mean that the Japanese in some way are being cheated. As a matter of fact, the citizens of Japan make or take and open or close the doors for their Prime Ministers. Public opinion and consensus happen to be very important for the Japanese society because these determine who is to be Japan’s leader. Take for example the very famous Junchiro Koizumi. Prime Minister Koizumi ruled Japan during its turbulent and unstable economic years. His decisions and actions were geared towards rescue and change. A change in the current political patterns of Japan and an attempt to save the Japanese banking system. There were reforms left and right, from economic policies to international ones. Basically, as the reading states it, he was concerned to make Japan’s economy fit for globalization (Stockwinn). Because of all that he had done and attempted to do, Koizumi was a very popular political figure. But as years passed, and with the common notion that no man is perfect, Koizumi started to do some things which startled the people of Japan. His constant visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and his close relations with former President George W. Bush slowly led to his downfall. A big issue that he had to deal with was his conscious act of having gone against the country’s constitution, more specifically Article 9 which renounces war and any use of force. This was evidently seen in his support for the US troops in Iraq. He aided America in their war against the Iraqis by sending self defense forces and sharing the states money.


Ohh-la-la, I feel as if I am not the Michelle my friends, teammates, and myself know. Did I just talk about politics here? This is so not me.


So getting down to business, why Japan? Why study the country and its politics as well? Well let me give you four very shallow reasons.


1) I am a Japanese studies major

2) Japan is the focus of this subject, hence the name JAGOPOL; Japanese government and
politics

3) We have no choice but to take it since it is a requirement for school

4) I am interested in Japan


But you see though these reasons are very true, I believe that I have come to know the importance and significance of learning about Japan and its politics in a much deeper level. Aside from what I have been mentioning all throughout this blog such as Japan having the 2nd largest economy, a very interesting political structure and leadership, there are still other interesting facts which make learning about Japan worth it. Allow me to briefly enumerate a few of those.


1) Japan’s society is experiencing something very boggling.
a. It has a declining workforce and an increasing number of old people.
b. Its population is rapidly shrinking despite it being the 10th most populous nation.
c. It is a very homogeneous race but at the same time ethically diverse that is why there are a lot
of discriminations going on. Take for example in the workplace and at home.

2) Japan is still continuing to grow in all aspects.
a. It is experiencing spectacular economic growth.
b. Japanese enjoy a higher average in their standards of living.
c. It is in the process of continuously being a mature democracy.

3) For a moment in Japan’s history, if I am not mistaken in the 1980’s, Japan was the 2nd most
powerful country when spoken of in a political manner.

4) Japan’s politics actually mirrors how the Japanese are with regards to culture and geography.

5) Though not so “out there” with regard to foreign policies, Japan is still a considerable factor in
the affairs of the different East and South East Asian countries.


Yeah, I think this pretty much convinces me to really get to know the country I am to deal with in the future. These are my “guided by the book” reasons as to why I should study Japan and its politics. So to end my very first blog ever in my whole life I'd like to share with you a short video clip which will just stabilize this entry and make it more me. Enjoy!

I got this video from you tube by the way, so thank you you tube :)

Think Stop:

Its human nature to ask questions, from childhood to adulthood one will always inquire and that I believe is how we all learn in our everyday lives. Comparing does the same. When you comapre you ask questions as well. as the book puts it: "to compare is to be human"