80 Years after End of WWII / Taking the Lead in Restoring Peace / Japan's Ability to Chart Diplomatic Vision is Tested
Japan has enjoyed peace and prosperity over the past 80 years. This is solely because it has been able to continue its economic activities and other endeavors within the U.S.-led international order based on the rule of law and free trade.
However, that international order is becoming increasingly shaky. This is partly because the United States has begun to turn its back on multilateral cooperation.
Urgent need to rebuild U.N.
The U.N. Security Council is in a position to lead the world toward peace and stability, but its key member Russia, a permanent member of the council, has continued its aggression against Ukraine.
In the Middle East, Israel has gone beyond its right to self-defense and is killing large numbers of civilians in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.
Japan must not be allowed to merely stand by and watch this situation, or continue to be a beneficiary of peace. Japan should take the lead in firing up international opinion for the rebuilding of order and the restoration of peace.
Japan has long provided help to developing countries through its official development assistance and other means. It also maintains good relationships with Middle East countries. Japan must leverage this accumulated experience and strengthen its efforts to engage with countries involved in conflicts.
The decline of U.S. influence and Russia's reckless behavior have resulted in the U.N. Security Council becoming dysfunctional.
U.N. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, but it is important for Japan to cooperate with other member states and contribute to shaping international opinion to ensure that Russia and other countries comply with them.
Japan's capabilities to chart a vision are being put to the test in the pursuit of global stability.
In 2016, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed the concept of a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' on the occasion of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in Kenya.
The concept, which aims to promote free trade among other principles across the Pacific and Africa as a whole, has also been incorporated into the diplomatic strategies of the United States and European countries.
However, it is regrettable that Japan has not been able to communicate such influential diplomatic policies since then. The ninth TICAD will begin in Yokohama on Wednesday. This should be an opportunity to deepen cooperation between the liberal camp, which includes Japan, and Africa.
At home, the Liberal Democratic Party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the recent House of Councillors election, has been in turmoil for nearly a month over the question of whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will resign or remain in office.
With politics in a state of paralysis, the government is in no state to formulate a new diplomatic policy. It is essential that the prime minister quickly decides to resign, paving the way for a stable new administration to be inaugurated.
Populism spreading
The international situation is becoming difficult to foresee. U.S. President Donald Trump has championed an 'America First' policy and imposed high tariffs, even on its allies.
In Europe, xenophobic populism is rampant, driven by dissatisfaction with policies on accepting immigrants and refugees, and the moderate centrist forces that led postwar development are losing ground.
Japan is no exception. The established political parties that long held a dominant position after the war have lost public trust and, in their place, new opposition forces advocating for what appears to be antiforeignism have begun to rise.
How to rebuild democracy at this crossroads is a serious challenge for Japan and other countries.
The current situation, in which many democratic countries are turning inward, could lead to a power vacuum. Forces seeking to unjustly seize territory and resources may grow even stronger.
China has repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. Recently, it has deployed aircraft carriers in the western Pacific and conducted takeoff and landing drills with carrier-based aircraft.
North Korea is said to be seeking to improve its nuclear and missile capabilities in exchange for sending troops to Russia, which has continued its aggression against Ukraine. Japan cannot let its guard down.
How to avoid a power vacuum
In light of the deteriorating security environment, Japan plans to increase its defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product. Meanwhile, European countries are moving toward raising their military expenses, including their defense-related public works spending, to 5%.
What defense efforts should Japan make to protect its security? It is necessary to deepen the discussion not only within the government but also among the ruling and opposition parties.
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction that, under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the United States is obliged to defend Japan while Japan has no such reciprocal obligation.
The costs Japan bears for U.S. bases stationed in Japan far exceed those of other U.S. allies. Trump's claims are unacceptable. The government must persistently explain the immense benefits the Japan-U.S. alliance brings to the United States.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2025)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan marks 80th anniversary of WWII surrender as concern grows about fading memory
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan is paying tribute to more than 3 million war dead as the country marks its surrender 80 years ago, ending the World War II, as concern grows about the rapidly fading memories of the tragedy of war and the bitter lessons from the era of Japanese militarism. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "remorse" over the war, which he called a mistake, restoring the word in a Japanese leader's Aug. 15 address for the first time since 2013, when former premier Shinzo Abe shunned it. Ishiba, however, did not mention Japan's aggression across Asia or apologize. "We will never repeat the tragedy of the war. We will never go the wrong way," Ishiba said. "Once again, we must deeply keep to our hearts the remorse and lesson from that war." In a national ceremony Friday at Tokyo's Budokan hall, about 4,500 officials and bereaved families and their descendants from around the country observed a moment of silence at noon, the time when the then-emperor's surrender speech began on Aug. 15, 1945. Just a block away at Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Asian neighbors as a symbol of militarism, dozens of Japanese rightwing politicians and their supporters came to pray. Ishiba stayed away from Yasukuni and sent a religious ornament as a personal gesture instead of praying at the controversial shrine. But Shinjiro Koizumi, the agriculture minister considered as a top candidate to replace the beleaguered prime minister, prayed at the shrine. Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minitser Junichiro Koizumi whose Yasukuni visit as a serving leader in 2001 outraged China, is a regular at the shrine. Rightwing lawmakers, including former economic security ministers Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, as well as governing Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight Koichi Hagiuda, also visited the shrine Friday. The shrine honors convicted war criminals, among about 2.5 million war dead. Victims of Japanese aggression, especially China and the Koreas, see visits to the shrine as a lack of remorse about Japan's wartime past. Japanese emperors have stopped visiting the Yasukuni site since the enshrinement of top war criminals there in 1978. Emperor Naruhito, in his address at the Budokan memorial Friday, expressed his earnest hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated while "reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse." Naruhito reiterated the importance of telling the war's tragic history and the ordeals faced during and after the war to younger generations as "we continue to seek the peace and happiness of the people in the future." As part of the 80th anniversary remembrance, he has traveled to Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima, and is expected to visit Nagasaki with his daughter, Princess Aiko, in September. Hajime Eda, whose father died on his way home from Korea when his ship was hit by a mine, said he will never forget his father and others who never made it home. In his speech representing the bereaved families, Eda said it is Japan's responsibility to share the lesson -- the emptiness of the conflict, the difficulty of reconstruction and the preciousness of peace. There was some hope at the ceremony, with a number of teenagers participating after learning about their great-grandfathers who died in the battlefields. Among them, Ami Tashiro, a 15-year-old high school student from Hiroshima, said she joined a memorial marking the end of the battle on Iwo Jima in April after reading a letter her great-grandfather sent from the island. She also hopes to join in the search for his remains. As the population of wartime generations rapidly decline, Japan faces serious questions on how it should pass on the wartime history to the next generation, as the country has already faced revisionist pushbacks under Abe and his supporters in the 2010s. Since 2013, Japanese prime ministers stopped apologizing to Asian victims, under the precedent set by Abe. Some lawmakers' denial of Japan's military role in massive civilian deaths on Okinawa or the Nanking Massacre have stirred controversy. In an editorial Friday, the Mainichi newspaper noted that Japan's pacifist principle was mostly about staying out of global conflict, rather than thinking how to make peace, and called the country to work together with Asian neighbors as equal partners. "It's time to show a vision toward 'a world without war' based on the lesson from its own history," the Mainichi said.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Editorial: 80 years after World War II, now is the time for Japan to act for global peace
Eighty years have passed since the end of a war that brought Japan to the brink of destruction and claimed countless lives in the Asian countries it invaded. It is time to reaffirm the weight of the peace built on such immense sacrifices. The journey of postwar Japan, marked by reconstruction and economic growth while upholding a vow to never wage war again, is something to be proud of. This was made possible by the postwar international order, underpinned by the rule of law and free trade. However, this foundation is on the verge of collapse. The international community has failed to stop the two wars continuing in Europe and the Middle East, while the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is disrupting the global economy with coercive high tariffs. The risk of nuclear weapons being used is increasing, and natural disasters caused by climate change are unending. The "Doomsday Clock," which warns of how close humanity is to its final hour, is set at its shortest time ever at 89 seconds to midnight. The logic of the powerful prevails In these turbulent times, the arrogance of powerful nations is rampant. The Israeli military is destroying the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territories, while Russia is pressuring Ukraine, once referred to as "Little Russia," to surrender. This is a structure where the weak are suppressed. Nazi Germany incited hostility toward Jews and drove its people into World War II. As the number of people who experienced the war dwindles and the preservation of their memories becomes challenging, there is concern about the rise of distorted nationalism and exclusionism. Japan is no exception. Politicians have made remarks denying the historical facts about the Battle of Okinawa and the Nanjing Massacre. During the recent House of Councillors election, false rumors such as "foreigners are being given preferential treatment" and "crime rates are high" were rampant. "It is tough for us, though we're the ones supporting Japan's convenient lifestyle." This was a comment received by Jiho Yoshimizu, the representative director of the nonprofit Nichietsu Tomoiki Shienkai (the Japan Vietnam Mutual Support Association), which supports Vietnamese residents in Japan. Intolerance that excludes minorities is continuous with the logic of "survival of the fittest." We must not allow the clock to be turned back to an era of war. Postwar Japan has maintained war-renouncing Article 9 of its Constitution and bases its security on the Japan-U.S. alliance to avoid direct involvement in armed conflict. By relying on the U.S. military for security, rapid economic growth was also possible. However, there is no denying that postwar Japan's societal trend was strongly influenced by the idea of "one-country pacifism," or a desire never to be caught up in war again, as noted by University of Tokyo professor Tadashi Karube. Now that the Trump administration has turned its back on global stability, Japan's ability to devise and create peace on its own initiative based on its postwar experience is put to the test. The most urgent task is to rebuild order. Japan must listen to the voices of the Global South and help create fair international rules. Instead of lamenting its declining national power, Japan should work to strengthen the function of the United Nations as "a forum where middle powers can join hands with small countries to exert their presence," as stated by U.N. Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu. The free trade system must be protected. Deepening dialogue with Southeast Asian countries and the European Union, and expanding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is a logical step. The creation of an environment that brings stability to East Asia is also urgent. Japan is in a position to propose the establishment of a regional framework for dialogue aimed at building trust. It is crucial not to impose "Japan-centric Asianism" as seen before the war, but to work as equal partners. Breaking away from 'own country first' policy According to a public awareness survey by the Japanese Red Cross Society, more than half of respondents believe "Japan is peaceful," while less than 20% feel "the world is peaceful." How can this gap be bridged? Professor Toshikazu Inoue of Gakushuin University, an expert on Showa-era (1926-1989) history, pointed out, "Japan must fulfill its fair share of responsibility in building world peace." There are notable citizen efforts. The Kyoto-based nonprofit Terra Renaissance sends staff to countries including Uganda in East Africa to help children, who were abducted by anti-government forces and forced to become soldiers, return home and reintegrate into society. Founder Masaya Onimaru explained, "We want to reclaim child soldiers and dismantle armed rebel groups. What is needed is to end conflicts through means other than violence." Now is the moment for Japan's political leadership to reflect on history and present a vision for a "world without war." It is perplexing that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba chose not to issue a statement to mark the anniversary of the end of WWII. Diplomatic critic Kiyoshi Kiyosawa, who was slammed as a "pacifist" during wartime, lamented the narrow, self-centered nationalism in his "A Diary of Darkness," writing, "Japan sees only its own position." His words still strike at the heart of the issue, even 80 years later. We must not shut ourselves off from the world and be bystanders to others' plights. At this 80-year postwar milestone, what is required of Japan is action that spreads the practice of peace across the globe.
The Mainichi
3 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Let's strive for global peace as we move toward 100th anniv. of WWII's end in Japan
Around the world today, gun triggers are being pulled and missiles are flying about, with "nuclear threats" going unchallenged. Humanity went through two worldwide wars in the 20th century. Out of regret over the catastrophic sacrifices paid, the United Nations was established. Conflicts were meant to be resolved through dialogue. Eighty years on, what is unfolding before our eyes today is the resurgence of "rule by force" and the nightmarish sight of the United States breaking rules when it was the guardian of post-World War II order. Insanity has shown no signs of abating, with the United Nations not even on the fringes of their mind. Japan also once experienced an era ruled by the madness of war. On the outskirts of the city of Nagano, central Japan, lies an underground bunker known as "Matsushiro Imperial Headquarters," built by drilling bedrock in a checkerboard pattern. It extends a total of more than 10 kilometers long. There was even a makeshift "Imperial Palace." The construction of the bunker commenced in the fall of 1944, and it was almost 80% complete before Japan was defeated in the war. The regime of the time was eyeing a "decisive battle on mainland Japan." The bunker was to serve as the nerve center of the government to give commands safely while avoiding aerial bombings. The "absolute national defense sphere" -- set during the war as essential regions for Japan to continue the war -- had already collapsed. As the country inclined toward spiritualism, calls for "suicide attacks by 100 million people" were made. The nation turned its back on truly necessary decisions, resulting in victims piling up through air raids, the Battle of Okinawa and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What Japan clung to was "preserving the national polity" centering around the emperor. It took no account of the lives of the people. The humongous bunker in the Shinshu region tells us that, after all these years that have passed, these were the very realities of the war. So how far has Japan managed to break with insanity? Certainly, Japan has never once exchanged fire since the end of World War II. The question is the "shadow of the United States" being cast over the country. The emperor at the time of the conflict was not prosecuted for war crimes at the discretion of the Allied occupation authorities, allowing Japan to return to the international community with its war responsibility being left ambiguous. The country initially pushed ahead with complete demilitarization. The tide changed with the Korean War, when Japan was considered a frontline base against communism and the wheels of rearmament began to turn. Japan's postwar diplomacy was based on the Yoshida Doctrine, named after then Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. If Japan was to achieve economic growth while leaving its security to the U.S., it could help show off the superiority of the Western allies. This also fitted Washington's international strategy. After the end of the Cold War, regional conflicts have erupted. The U.S. stepped up its pressure on Japan to contribute internationally. The answer Japan came up with was security legislation that paved the way for the country's limited exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The integration of Japan and the U.S. has accelerated. Yet concerns linger over Japan's endurance against insanity if the country remains passive. It is even more so amid the circumstances where the U.S. is backing away from its role of maintaining international order. The rise of populism is making it difficult to confront insanity. Globalization has generated winners and losers, and the middle class that has supported democracy is shrinking. Entwined with anxiety about the future among youth and xenophobic sentiment, populism turns into a typhoon while teaming up with social media. The storm has also hit Japan. Politics vies for immediate "achievements," raising instability. Threats are being fueled. Some of the candidates who referred to Japan going nuclear in their campaigning for the House of Councillors election got elected. The late novelist and historian Ryotaro Shiba rated Japan around the early Showa era (1926-1989), when it was overshadowed by the war, as "itai" -- literally a child who doesn't feel like one's own. Even if the period was a mutant, it was part of Japan's history that is connected to modern society. Japanese society in the current Reiwa era (2019-) is urged to be one that will check where it stands and speak out if it finds something is amiss, so it will never again tumble down the hill toward destruction. We will continue our reporting with the lessons from having fueled parochial nationalism etched in our hearts. Let us not make the present day an interwar period, but carry on with the "postwar" era. For that to happen, we would first like to see global peace as we move toward the 100th anniversary of the war's end. (Japanese original by Hirotomo Maeda, Executive Editor)
