Arab News Japan

TOKYO: As a member of the G7 group of nations, Japan is often considered to have a “Western” view of the world, but the commentary in the Toyo Keizai magazine says Japan should stand up as an Asian nation.

According to the article penned by MATOBA Akihiro, Professor Emirates at Kanagawa University, the Japanese populace is growing weary of a political landscape that is heavily reliant on Western influence. The piece argues that the ‘Westernization’ of Japan, which involves the adoption of Western political, economic, and cultural norms, has eroded Japan’s distinct identity and sidelined Asian perspectives in global affairs.

The recent Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki, where the Palestine representative was invited, but the Israeli Ambassador wasn’t due to Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, highlighted this concept of Japan’s position, whether it is with Asia or with the West.

The Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony ended up putting the positions of the Japanese government and the city of Nagasaki at odds. However, at the Hiroshima Peace Ceremony (the hometown of Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio), the situation was reversed and in line with the Japanese government’s and the West’s position.

Professor Matoba suggested, “This conflict reflects the contradiction in the hearts of the Japanese people about leaving Asia and joining the West.”

“When I think of the sacrifices made by the children and women of Gaza, I understand why Israel cannot be invited to the peace ceremony. Nagasaki’s position on this war is different from that of the West. Whether it is the G7 or not, this should be made clear. The Japanese people do not want their country to run around like a tea boy. I want Japan to state its position as a non-Western nation with a firm attitude.”

ISHIBASHI Tanzan, a well-known Toyo Keizai newspaper writer, said in 1960, “The attitude the Japanese government should take is very simple and clear: It should rely on its constitution. Such is natural, and at the same time, it is a dignified pretense that allows it to firmly reject interference in its internal affairs from any country in the world, including the United States.”

The commentary emphasized that Japan is an Asian country while the G7 (excluding Japan) is a coalition of Western developed countries and “a gathering of the white imperialist powers that had long dominated Asia.”

The G6, which later became the G7 with Japan’s inclusion, was originally established by the former Western powers after the 1973 oil shock to maintain oil prices and the dollar systems, Ishibashi writes. At the time, Japan had surpassed West Germany in GNP (nowadays GDP = Gross Domestic Product) to become the second largest country in the Western economy and was invited to join. However, in that sense, the seat was uncomfortable for the Japanese government from the start. As the economy grew, Japan could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Western powers and join the ranks of the great powers, which is what joining the G7 meant, but it also meant that Japan had officially become a member of the Western European nations.

Professor Matoba argues that Japan, being an Asian country, should base its policies within the Asian context, rather than as a fallback option if relations with Western Europe falter. The piece suggests that a stronger alignment with Asia could not only bring Japan closer to its cultural roots but also foster robust regional partnerships and potentially lead to more advantageous trade and economic agreements.

“As an Asian country, Japan cannot act with Western countries in a different environment. This is because Asia has its logic. Suppose the G7 alliance of developed countries is an alliance of Western powers. In that case, Japan cannot represent Asia, so it has no choice but to abandon Asia and become one of the Western powers.”