The Spartan Face of Japan: A Traditionalist's Dilemma
Ancient Sparta and modern Japan share a fear of change. This historicist view, where progress is seen as a decline, echoes Plato's philosophy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, like past "Great Men," believes he can reverse this decline. However, this path risks repeating past mistakes, prioritizing a tribal, anti-reason mentality that historically has led to suicidal national behavior.
The Politics of Nostalgia
The provided blog post argues that "Abeism" is a dangerous political ideology rooted in a romanticized, militaristic past and a "death worship." The author contrasts this nostalgic yearning among a powerful Japanese elite with the pacifism of post-war Germany and the lived reality of ordinary people, like their father-in-law, who experienced the true brutality of war.
The Ambiguity of Justice: Rethinking Japan's War Guilt
The Yasukuni Shrine sparks contention, notably due to enshrined war criminals like Hideki Tojo. The Tokyo War Trials had ambiguities; convictions were often based on vague charges, and figures like Emperor Hirohito were never prosecuted. Some involved in Unit 731 even gained immunity. Despite these complexities, Japan benefited immensely from its post-war "Peace Constitution," becoming "the luckiest nation." Abandoning this advantageous pacifist role for global conflicts would be "lunacy." The Tokyo Trials' legacy shapes Japan's present and future.