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[Solar Strength]

I've recently read several articles about the Osaka mayor that seemed to justify the sex slaves of World War II and that Abe is actually quite right wing in his politics. I've also heard that the new political party established by former Tokyo Governor Ishihara is quite right wing.

Has anyone who has lived here for the last decade noticed a difference in the attitudes of politicians and public? Are they really becoming more nationalistic and right wing?

If so, how will that impact life here for gaijin who are here long-term?

[Pitarou]

Congratulations. Your eyes have opened.

Hashimoto's statements are not unusual in what counts as political discourse in Japan. Prime Minister Abe himself issued a partial retraction on previous administrations' apologies to the "Comfort Women". Or take Ishihara, the former mayor of Tokyo, who often came out with statements like, "Chinese have criminal DNA." and kept being re-elected.

Nationalism runs strong and deep in the veins of the Japanese body politic. Japan has been carefully nurturing its uyoku groups for decades. Did you ever wonder why the famously polite, diplomatic Japanese were so notoriously cack-handed in international diplomacy? It's because they are so blinded by their own nationalist rhetoric. There's a lot more I could say about this....

Are things getting worse? Yes, and no. Japan's national character isn't changing. But Japan's circumstances are. The recent political swing rightwards is Japan's response to the financial gloom and loss of economic prestige. If there has been a change, it's that Japan's political leaders are now giving up the pretence that Japan is a liberal democracy.

This is likely to continue. Japan's national debt is out of control, and it will take years of financial repression to sort the mess out. Make no mistake: Abenomics is a strategy of desperation. It's a hell of a lot better than doing nothing, but nobody with any sense expects it herald a return to Japan's golden age of economic growth.

Should you be worried? Of course you should. But this is nothing new. Those in the know have been worrying about Japan for decades.

[sicklyman]

I'm with Pitarou. My first thought on seeing the title of this thread was, "More nationalistic? is that possible?"

[timothypfox]

I think it's more of the same. The political elite have been grooming Abe for PM since the 90s, and he spoke with the same mix of fiscal responsibility and nationalist fervor back then. People are keying in more to a more desperate need for fiscal management than anything, so Abe finally "came of age" and got his chance. An aging population will natural mean that the voices and votes of a more progressive worldly youth are being stifled. Japan doesn't ever really change - at least not that much...

[Apsara]

I've lived in Japan since 1995. Idiot politicians have been making stupid comments for as long as I've been here- nothing new there. Toru Hashimoto (Osaka mayor) is a complete tosser but unfortunately there are always people who will vote for someone like that. Ex-Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara made plenty of similarly stupid comments while he was in power. I see less of the right wing black vans and buses than I did 12 years ago, which is nice. I don't think that the populace as a whole has become more nationalistic, no.

[sicklyman]

[qwertyu2]

[Pitarou]

[Seeker of truth]

Yes, nationalism in Japan is nothing new. A big question to ask is what have the Japanese done with all of the loot they pilfered up until the end of WWII? Much of it is still in Japan, but where? Here's an excellent book about it:

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Warriors-Americas-Recovery-Yamashitas/dp/1844675319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372085047&sr=8-1&keywords=yamashita%27s+gold

[Cool Teacher]

[Pitarou]

[Solar Strength]

[Pitarou]

Insofar as we can treat "the Japanese" as a single entity ...

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Saw the black vans today!

[nightsintodreams]

Hmmm...I'm also not sure about how I feel regarding nationalism in Japan. It definately does exist and is a problem but to what extent?

When I think of my grandparents and some of the nationalistic things they come out with at times, I think it's comparable to the way most Japanese people think today. Everything takes time, Im sure in another two or three generations Japan will change too.

Look on the bright side, in Japan I'd say there is more ignorant racism than hateful racism like we have in the west.

Regarding those black vans, can you actually understand Japanese? Have you ever heard them say anything negative about foreigners living in Japan? When I first came to Japan I remember what people said about these vans and whenever I saw them I thought "racists!" without understanding much of what they were saying. I've never actually heard them say anything negative about foreigners living in Japan. The last few I've seen we're actually talking about standing up to North Korea as well not giving up the Senkalu islands.

I've even walked straight past them with a Japanese gf once and they paid me no attention whatsoever. Now think of the BNP in the UK, how would they have reacted if a Pakistani or Muslim looking guy had walked past them with a white girl.

Racism does exist in Japan but I think as whities who have never experienced any real racism we exaggerate it a little too much. Lets be honest, none of us know what it's like for a Muslim guy living in a white area of Devon or Cornwall (white countryside areas of the UK), but I'd probably guess he faces as much or more racism that whities living in Japan do.