How Modern Japan Is Described in Textbooks around the World
(Select a Country to review excerpts)
Europe ……………
Austria,
France,
Germany,
Switzerland,
UK
Asia ……………… China,
India,
Indonesia,
Korea,
Malaysia,
Russia,
Singapore,
Vietnam
North America ……
Mexico,
USA
South America ……
Brazil
EUROPE
UK
Title:
Development, Disparity & Dependence: A Study of the Asian Pacific Region
Pages: 13-31
Publisher: Nelson Thornes Ltd., Cheltenham, UK, 1998
Excerpt:
Chapter: Japan: From Ruins to World Power
Introduction
Japan’s status as a global superstar and as the leading economy of the Asian Pacific region is undisputed. Since 1968 it has ranked as the world’s second most powerful economy, after the USA. Japan’s emergence as a front-runner in terms of economic development is quite remarkable…What factors enabled Japan to achieve the spectacular change from ruins to riches within a 20-year span during the post-war period? …Japan’s success may have been the product of a particular or even unique combination of factors and circumstances, perhaps never to be repeated for any other nation.
The bonuses of war
Clearly, there were fortuitous events of a geopolitical nature that created opportunities. For example, the Korean War highlighted the strategic importance of Japan’s offshore location with respect to the Asian continent…The USA and its Western allies soon realized the need to keep down-and-out Japan as a member of the capitalist camp, rather than let it slip into the hands of the communists. So rather than continue punishing the defeated Japan,…help was given to rebuild its economy. Japan was able to regain face and become rehabilitated as a respected member of the global community. Another bonus was not being allowed to re-arm…In short, since then Japan has never had to spend more than 1 per cent of its national wealth on defence.
Trade
One might be tempted to say that Japan has been too successful as a trading nation. Nowadays it has a huge overall trade surplus. A significant number of Japan’s trading partners, including the USA and the UK, suffer large trade deficits. Complaints are made and threats of protectionism are uttered, thereby creating…trade friction…Curiously, the move into surplus coincided with the beginning of the low-growth era.
Quality of Life
Whilst Japan as a nation has been highly successful, how have its ordinary people fared? How good is their quality of life?
The following conclusions might be made about the quality of life in Japan:
- Development has undoubtedly brought an improvement in the Japanese quality of life;
- Although Japan may be the world’s second wealthiest economy, it is doubtful whether the country offers the second-best quality of life – certainly, key things like housing, leisure and welfare services are better in the UK;
- Within the Asian Pacific region, it may be that some of the Tiger economies, notably Hong Kong and Singapore, are beginning to challenge Japan in terms of quality of life.
Current concerns about the future
There can be little doubt that the Japanese economy has passed its peak in terms of economic growth rates; for some 20 years it has been in a low-growth mode…It is the offshore movement of manufacturing that sounds the loudest alarm bells in Japan…The consequences are likely to be even more dire if the productivity in the service sector is not raised. At home, the Japanese government is keen to see the high-tech industries as its flagship. But such industries need very high levels of investment in technological research and development. At a time when the national budget is under great pressure and there is a tight squeeze on corporate funds, money for R&D is in short supply.
In short, one can understand why the Japanese worry about their economic prospects in the 21st century and therefore their future quality of life…the recent collapse of some of Japan’s leading banks and of its stock market has greatly added to that worry.
