Aspects of Japanese Uniqueness - Essay Example

Aspects of Japanese Uniqueness Introduction Japan is globally known as an economic powerhouse, but it still remains a mystery to the world outside its borders. Talks of the uniqueness of Japan – from the Japanese as well as others – overlook the shared human traits that make cross-cultural communication enriched and possible. Further, the comparison of Japan to the West overlooks the intrinsic differences that enabled Japan to curve out its course through the difficulties of the postindustrial and the postwar eras.1 The Japanese society went through major social and cultural changes, following the end of WWII and the previous era. The major changes include the increased participation of women in paid work, the reduction of family size and the replacement of rural with urban lifestyles. The prosperity of Japan covers the discrimination and the unequal wealth distribution, which is channeled at some Groups. This paper will explore the uniqueness of Japan, including its culture, historical events and the country’s economics. Discussion One aspect of Japan’s unique history and economics can be traced to the introduction of many reforms, primarily by the Americans. One of the crucial areas of the reform agenda was that of women’s rights, where men and women were declared equals, followed by the women suffrage of 1946 and the promotion of education for women.2 Examples of the changes emanating from the reforms included the formation of 26 women’s universities, as well as the employment of 2,000 female police officials. In 1947, there was the passage of the equal pay policy. These policy changes and the reforms that emanated from them made the reconstruction of the Japanese economy and its production facilities faster than those of other countries that were left behind in the area.3 For example, instead of depending on the labor input of men to rebuild its infrastructure and to grow the national economy, Japan relied on the input of its male and female populations: the huge laborforce enabled it to advance faster than other national economies. The unique historical changes of Japan and its economy can also be traced to the reduction of family size, which became evident during the 1950s, following a change of attitudes towards the family system and marriage.4 The changes included getting into marriage late, working prior to marriage, and giving birth to fewer children, so that they can remain actively involved in employment among other lines of productivity. The reduction in the size of the family – where many of the marriages are arranged and the women are the dominant authorities in marriage – has allowed women to concentrate on furthering the national economy. The change in the set up of the family system has also increased female employment, which fostered the rapid economic development of the Japanese economy, and its creation of a dominant place in the world.5 The statistics showing evidence of these changes include that, as of 1955, surveys and polls gave the information that 81 percent of marriages were arranged; women continued to work after marriage and childbirth.6 Such a situation would be inconceivable a few generations ago, and the huge shift in social values reflects the uniqueness of Japan, which enabled it to advantage from its human resources immensely. The history of Japan demonstrates a unique transition from a rural to an urban setup of society, which led to the consumer boom of the 1970s.7 The consumer boom of the 1970s was both a catalyst for the rapid changes of the Japanese society, as well as evidence of the changing outlook of society. During the 1970s, the contents of the rural home as well as the everyday lifestyle had changed to a large extent. The changes included that, different from the previous system where the rural population used to warm their houses using firewood, more than 70 percent of the households owned a kerosene stove. Additionally, many of the rural households owned the household properties that were regarded sacred during the 1950s, including that 91% of the rural population owned a washing machines, 83% had refrigerators and almost the entire population owned a television set.8 The rapid uptake of urban amenities was a trigger to the economic development of Japan, and more importantly, it was evidence of the uniqueness of the Japanese society, unlike many of its neighboring societies. After the conclusion of WWII, Japan was left considerably destabilized, following the destruction of major cities, except Kyoto; major industries and the country’s transport network. Despite the major crisis, Japan entered a partnership with the Allied forces, which was a major factor in its process of economic and social recovery. The alliance was evidenced by combination of military and economic forces, among them, the formation of the United States Forces Japan.9 The strategic steps taken by Japan in planning and executing its recovery from the crisis demonstrated its uniqueness, noting that it was not a course followed by many post-colonial nations.10 The uniqueness of Japan is also evidenced by the control of its territorial lands by other nations, many of whose control was disputed. However, irrespective of the control crisis, the takeover administrated by the USA was aimed at restoring peace in Japan, and solidifying the newly adopted democratic system. The maintenance of peace and productivity transformed the nation into a production center; it become a ground for social reforms and also a center for wealth redistribution.11 The wide reaching changes covering the economic, the social and the cultural spheres of Japan made it grow into a hub for economic and social power, which was helpful in charting Japan’s fast recovery track. The unique recovery strategy was evidence of the distinctiveness of Japan, from other states, noting that the system allowed it to transform from a broken state to a global power. The historical relation between Japan and the Allied forces demonstrates its uniqueness. The evidence of the unique relations include that the remains of its war artillery was destroyed, and the people that participated in the war were subjected to trial.12 Following the start of the war trials, more than 500 military workers committed suicide, following the surrender of Japan, in fear that they would be executed – like the hundreds executed for engaging in war-related crimes. Japan’s uniqueness can be identified from the inconsistency of the foreign relations and the control it was subjected to, including that irrespective of the fact that the foreign control was working on reviving its economy, it led to the execution of many Japanese. The historical policies implemented in Japan as well as its reliance on foreign domination in recovering its economy evidenced its uniqueness.13 This is especially true, noting that foreign nations, particularly the US was very instrumental in the planning and the execution of the new course of administration and economics, which offered the systems needed for the progress of the nation.14 During the year 1947, the new constitution was put into effect, which led to the loss of the powers held by the emperor – military and political. Following the loss of power, the emperor was made a state symbol, and the changes charted the way for the observance of human rights.15 Other major changes that came along with the implementation of the provisions of the new constitution included that Japan was forbidden from maintaining an army or leading a war. Also, Shinto – the traditional religious system of Japan – was separated from the operations and the working of the state. The uniqueness of Japan, after the endorsement of the new constitution was evidenced by the maintenance of traditional systems, where offices like that of the emperor remained valid, although ceremonial in nature. Further, the traditional interconnectivity of Japan’s religion and state operations evidences its uniqueness, noting that it was among the few nations that did not have distinctions between the two systems.16 During 1973, the oil crisis affected the economy of Japan in a major way, due to its dependence on oil resources and energy. However, in response to the oil crisis, Japan’s unique outlook was evidenced through the uptake of and the shift to high technology industries, which were less dependent on oil resources. The other innovative strategies implemented to address the crisis included the opening up of Japanese markets for more international products, which would drive trade to higher levels, and as a result resolve the crisis.17 During the 1980s, Japan’s innovative resolution to economic difficulties included the regulation that kept interest rates at low points, which triggered an investment boom in the Tokyo property market.18 In more recent years, Japan has demonstrated its abilities to deal with crisis and incidents creatively, including the privatization of the Japanese postal system and the intensification of the war against terrorism. Conclusion Japan is a globally recognized economic power, but much about it and its history remains a mystery to the world. Japan, since 1945, has undergone a wide array of social, cultural and economic changes, which evidenced its uniqueness around the globe. The changes that evidence Japan’s uniqueness include its recovery after the destruction caused by WWII, the entry of the Allied forces into the country in 1945 and its historical relations with the allied forces after 1945. These different changes evidenced the uniqueness of Japan, because they demonstrated its strategic recovery from national and regional crisis. References Beauchamp, E. (1998). The Japanese Economy and Economic Issues since 1945. New York: Routledge. Gabriel, R. (2002).The Great Armies of Antiquity. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Hall, J. (1988). The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Karan, P. (2005). Japan in the 21st Century: Environment, Economy and Society. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. Menton, L., Lush, N., Tamura, E., & Gusukuma, C. (2003). The Rise of Modern Japan. Hawaii: The University of Hawaii Press. Nozaki, Y. (2008). War Memory, Nationalism and Education in Postwar Japan: The Japanese History. New York: Routledge. Partner, S. (2004). Toshie: A Story of Village Life in Twentieth-Century Japan. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Tsurumi, S. (1987). A Cultural History of Postwar Japan: 1945-1980. New York: Routledge, 1987. Read More