Getting it wrong about Japan–again
Posted by ampontan on Sunday, September 23, 2007
H.L. MENCKEN once observed that there is no idea so stupid that some college professor won’t believe it. That goes double for professors who are also fellows at foundations and other institutions.
You won’t have to look far to confirm this: Weston Konishi’s article on Ichiro Ozawa and the Democratic Party of Japan that appeared in the Japan Times.
What you are about to read are the words of a paid expert who has no idea what he’s talking about:
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) president Ichiro Ozawa’s success in orchestrating the downfall of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is a major victory for his party. It is also arguably the first time since the resignation of Abe’s grandfather, Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke in 1960, that a prime minister has lost his job over an issue directly related to the U.S.-Japan alliance — perhaps the take-home impression of policymakers in Washington.
Arguably? The only person person making this argument is Mr. Konishi, who might as well be in a room by himself talking to the furniture. Everyone else realizes that the recent election turned on domestic issues.
Perhaps Mr. Konishi was aiming for a rhetorical flourish when he made a connection between the fates of Prime Ministers Kishi and Abe. It does make for a convenient opening paragraph–laughably incorrect, but convenient.
Opinion pieces that stumble so badly at the start at least contain the possibility for more loopy levity to come, but alas, Mr. Konishi shot his wad. The rest of the piece is so vapid you can almost count the air molecules.
The Japan Times notes that Mr. Konishi is a visiting research fellow at the Institute for International Policy Studies. Here’s what they say on their website:
The Institute for International Policy Studies is a non-profit, independent research institute based in Tokyo that examines security, economic, political, environmental, and other concerns in the world with an emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.
The logo at the top of their website offers a small surprise. This Tokyo-based institute that emphasizes the Asia-Pacific region uses a world map centered on Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean.
But it shouldn’t have been surprising. After all, they’re working with Mr. Konishi.
Aceface said
I think that’s an overkill.Because the reason of Abe’s resign can be interrupted in multiple levels and everyone is now busy exploiting it for their own political gains.
Since Abe had spoken as the direct reason of his decision to resign was because Ozawa refused to talk with Abe on the matter,then it can be described by Mr.Konishi that it was the MSDF Indian Ocean activity had caused the resignation.Although my guess is it was because of Abe’s inability of dealing with the numerous crisis that ended the premireship.
IIPS世界平和研究所is basically center to right security related people are gathered and was founded by Nakasone,not exactly a liberal politician.So there is no need to speculate the liberal biases.
Anyway,Konishi had put the same piece on Center of International Strategic Studies Pacific-Net home page and along with that Brad Grosserman had written a very balanced report called “End of Abe’s agony”,which I think is a must read.I also recommend you to read Fukuda Kazuya’s article on Shukan Shincho called 「国民を騙せなかった総理の悲劇」
ampontan said
Aceface: I wasn’t talking about liberal bias, just incompetence. The author can’t read polling information? The website devoted to Asian studies can’t find a map of Asia?
Aceface said
Well it says “World Peace”in Japanese!
Patrick said
Hi-I came across your site a few weeks ago and bookmarked it. As for your opinions here about Weston Konishi`s article, I totally agree, and you reminded me of similar comments in a Gwynne Dyer article published on the 20th in The Japan Times. I submitted a letter to the paper on the 22nd stating my disagreement with her. Hopefully, they will print it on Wed. Abe`s downfall was in the cards from day one. He never understood what the great majority of Japanese are interested in now-domestic issues like health care and pensions. If a significant part of the public pays attention to foreign policy, it`s because of concerns about N. Korea, and somewhat about China, and not about the U.S./Japan alliance. Also, his “Back To The Future” ideas didn`t sit well with the Japanese public. Perhaps Mr. Konishi and Ms. Dyer should spend more time in Japan. Then they might know what they are talking about.
Overthinker said
Just a note: Gwynne Dyer is male.
http://www.gwynnedyer.net/
ampontan said
My previous take on a Gwynne Dyer article.
http://ampontan.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/paying-tribute-to-the-new-chinese-emperors/
I wonder sometimes how these people get published…
Patrick said
Overthinker-thanks for pointing that out. Can`t say as I`d ever had any interest in going to his site before.
Ampontan-thanks for the link. Some interesting reading.