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My take - the emperor is well educated and knows what's coming. Continuous tensions with China, printing money for some 35 years now (correct me if I'm wrong),
by dmichulke 10y ago
My take - the emperor is well educated and knows what's coming. Continuous tensions with China, printing money for some 35 years now (correct me if I'm wrong), a demography that's unsustainable, a treasury and stock market controlled by the central bank, ...
1920s/30s all over again with first a collapse of the yen and later on a war to distract the blame from the failed monetary policy and funnel the anger into some nationalist ideology.
I certainly can't blame him for not wanting to take part in that.
- OedipusRex 10y agoA war with who?
- ptaipale 10y agoI think I have a better explanation: he's 82 years old. If he's not in exceptionally good shape, the job of a formal head of state may be too much even in smooth times. Japan has been printing money and economy has tanked for 35 years, but still life is good for the Japanese.
- erikb 10y agoHaven't read much about Japan. But I'm quite sure that China is looking for someone to make a war with and they still have some grudges with Japan. If Japan on the other side is also heading in the direction of war there may really something happen. That's worrysome.
- Hitard 10y agoNobody wants war in Asia. The question is how and at what rate the United States withdraws from its ultimately unsustainable position as pacific hegemon. China would like it to happen sooner. Most of the rest of Asia would like it to happen later, and to share more equitably in a post-american security coalition. To make that possible, Japan and South Korea may need to show more strategic solidarity in the short term.
- erikb 10y agoIf you only look at the public evidence you are right. If you get to drunken politics discussions with Chinese men at 3am at night, then it looks a little different.