FROM THE EDITOR (IWAO Sumiko)

CHRONOLOGY (July – August 2005)

THE LONG SHADOW OF WORLD WAR II (SHIRAISHI Takashi)

Historical Perceptions and South Korea’s Changing Identity (KIMURA Kan)

Japan and South Korea have long been at loggerheads over historical issues, and within South Korea views of history are strongly colored by a belief that there can be only one “correct” perception. South Korean society is now at a major turning point; people there see the threat from North Korea as having receded, and they have become more critical of Japan and of compatriots seen as being pro-Japanese. (Chûô Kôron, August 2005)

The History Factor in Sino-Japanese Ties (KAWASHIMA Shin)

Many Japanese attribute the recent Chinese outbursts against Japan to anti-Japanese education, which they associate with the present Communist government. But this sort of education has in fact been going on for a century. Japan is the main villain in China’s textbook accounts of the decades up to 1945. It is probably impossible for the two countries to reach a shared view of history, but it is important for both to provide full access to their respective source materials. (Chûô Kôron, July 2005)

War Responsibility and Yasukuni Shrine (MATSUMOTO Ken’ichi, MIKURIYA Takashi, SAKAMOTO Kazuya)

The controversy over Yasukuni Shrine continues to weigh on Japan’s international relations. Part of the problem is that the shrine retains the distinct flavor of State Shintô, the official cult of prewar Japan, even though it is no longer officially associated with the state. This is why its enshrinement of class A war criminals convicted by an international tribunal after World War II is such a sore point, particularly with China. (Chûô Kôron, August 2005)

CHINA’S ECONOMIC AGENDA (NARIAI Osamu)

East Asia’s Thirst for Energy (KOJIMA Akira)

China has turned into a major importer of oil and other natural resources, and competition for energy is becoming a source of international friction, such as the dispute between China and Japan over gas fields in the East China Sea. A framework for regional cooperation in East Asia could help avert a dangerous scramble for resources. (Japan Echo original)

STRUCTURAL REFORM

Progress Toward a New Policymaking Process (OKANO Sadahiko)

The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy was launched in January 2001, and it has played a major role since Koizumi Jun’ichirô became prime minister in April that year. The CEFP’s formulation of annual policy packages has improved the transparency of the policymaking process, revealing at least part of the interaction between the government and the Liberal Democratic Party. (Ronza, August 2005)

HEADING TO THE POLLS

Koizumi Stakes All on Snap “Postal Election” (IZUMI Hiroshi)

SOCIAL TRENDS

The Rising Tide of Poverty in Japan (TACHIBANAKI Toshiaki)

Statistics show that the level of income inequality in Japan is already relatively high by comparison with other advanced industrial nations. Furthermore, the number of people dependent on public assistance has risen markedly in recent years. The problem of poverty is especially severe among the elderly, the disabled, and single mothers. (Ronza, June 2005)

KYÔ MACHIYA

Kyoto’s Disappearing Architectural Heritage (ÔTANI Takahiko)

The traditional townhouses of Kyoto were built to last, but in the postwar decades many of these Kyô machiya were torn down and replaced by condominiums and the like. Moreover current construction standards do not allow new ones to be built. Recently the remaining machiya have found renewed appreciation, though in some cases this has led to questionable sorts of commercial use. (Sekai, May 2005)

KEYS TO THE JAPANESE MIND