hanamichi

Allow me to share the perspective of average educated Chinese people toward Japan: 1. Japan is a society that "worships strength." 2. Japan is a highly hierarchical society with strong feudal characteristics, interpreting the world through the framework of rank and status. 3. Power, often military power, serves as the foundation for establishing hierarchical order in human societies. 4. Historically, Japan viewed China as the highest-ranking civilization. As part of the Sinosphere, Japan existed as a tributary or quasi-tributary state of China. 5. When Japan witnessed the decline of the Chinese Empire (the Qing Dynasty), it decisively turned to the West. This shift marked the Meiji Restoration and the policy of "Datsu-A Ron" (Leaving Asia, Joining Europe), adopting Western institutions and distancing itself from Chinese civilizational influence. 6. Japan further solidified its perceived position in the global civilizational hierarchy through victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. 7. Emulating European colonialism, Japan began viewing the invasion and colonising of other nations as a legitimate means to elevate its status—a reflection of the pre-20th century world order. 8. In the 1930s, Japan launched a war of aggression against China, aiming to colonize it, utilize its resources for growth, dominate Asia (through the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere"), and challenge the West. 9. Believing its comprehensive strength had matured, Japan eventually initiated war against the United States and Western powers, with the attack on Pearl Harbor representing the peak of this ambition. 10. Japan was ultimately defeated not by America's formidable fleet and marines alone, but by two atomic bombs, despite its industrial inferiority to the U.S. 11. Following the atomic bombings, Japan surrendered. At that moment, it re-established its understanding of the global hierarchy: the United States, capable of deploying such devastating weapons, was the undisputed master. Japan would henceforth submit completely to the U.S., emulating—however superficially—its institutions, social structures, popular culture, values, and all facets of American life. This was not an abandonment of Japanese culture and tradition, but an effort to remake itself in America's image. Post-war Japan became, in essence, a "neutered dog." 12. Thus, a peculiar dynamic emerged. While other nations may view the U.S. as a hegemon or ally while retaining the right to criticize, Japan regards America as a suzerain and an object of worship, refraining from any criticism. Psychologically, this relationship is inherently unequal because Japan, as a hierarchical and strength-worshipping society, believes it must remain subordinate to the nation that defeated it in war. 13. This also explains why Japan appears to live in a world that is decades old. It clings to a unipolar worldview where America remains the undisputed leader—much like a low-ranking yakuza member maintaining loyalty to a fading gang boss. 14. What unsettles Japan most is the rise of China. Japan struggles to confront the very power and cultural suzerain it abandoned over a century ago. Only a struggle that reshapes this order can change that. 15. Either Japan must be defeated by China, or the U.S. must be defeated by China, or a new power relationship is established (hence not technically a "defeat"). This contest could take military, technological, economic, or cultural forms. 16. But Japan inevitably requires such a reconfiguration to rebuild its understanding of the world order, for this is how it comprehends the world. 17. For now, at least, Japan has only one object of worship: the United States. This is the reason behind the obsequious demeanor of politicians like Sanae Takaichi toward figures like Donald Trump

Years ago, I had proposed an essay along the lines of “What’s going on with anime?” that no writer wanted to take up. I can now see why. No one likes the answer.

Making the impossible possible After reading so-many analyses that regime change in Iran was impossible, it seems as though the impossible is looking more and more possible. Some of the coverage is even turning as the WSJ story on the elimination of Ali Larijari documented how the leadership of Iran is being reduced to on all fronts and the security apparatus is beginning to wear thin and is systematically being frightened. And it’s pretty clear the US is preparing to take Kharg island once all the forces needed are in place to apply next level of pressure against Iran, which is alienating all of the other Arab countries with attacks on their hotels and airports. All this support from Dems for not taking out Iran remains puzzling given this regime was amassing thousands of ballistic missiles on top of its nuclear program and machine gunned its own people by the bushel to put down protest. And while the US is targeting military assets, Iran is sending outlawed cluster missiles right at heavily populated civilian areas of major cities. The US military is at the top of its game carrying out massive operations with minimal losses. More and more the survival of this regime is coming under question as their leadership, military assets and secret police are all facing real-time destruction that cannot be sustained.

Not a huge impact from Iran yet, but a new net low in our Trump approval tracking today fwiw.