The Japanese Question Power & Purpose in a New Era

by Pyle Kenneth B

In this update of the 1992 edition, the author describes the emergence of Japan's new Asian strategy since the Cold War and the dilemmas it poses for American policymakers.

Paperback

First published May 27, 1992

Reviews

[M S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japan used to have a 1 in every 120 deaths a surrendered solider during WW2 compared to Japans peacekeeping operation in Cambodia where after 1 Japanese died, 1/3 of the Japanese policemen fled their assignments, four Japanese peacekeepers deserted the country and sought refuge in neighbouring Thailand. What happened to japans strong warrior spirit? This book explores Japans postwar question, wherein Japans whole approach to the international sphere is changed from dominator to submissive to America and purely economical. With the implementation of the article 9 in the GHQ constitution, japans military engagement with the outside world completely vanished. Japans identity needed a whole new reshaping, through the decades without realising, Japanese folks had become radically pacifists with no turning back and strong distaste in engaging in military services- even peacekeeping and/or humanitarian aid.
The first time Japan sent out SDF after WW2 was in 1992 during Cambodian PKO. As quoted in the book ‘a senior UN official remarked that “the only time the Japanese were tested by fire, they abandoned us.”