For 'missing' Japan, it's either step up or risk 'vanishing'

By Hirotsugu Koike
16 September 2008
Nikkei Weekly

Often seen as inward-looking, uninterested in global affairs, nation faces urgent need for more proactive approach, better communication skills


There has been quite a bit of talk lately about this country being in the midst of a "Japan missing" phase, having already gone from "Japan bashing" to "Japan passing." These phrases describe Japan's relationship with the rest of the world over the past couple of decades.

The phrase "Japan bashing" generally refers to the threat of U.S. trade sanctions over Japan's trade policies in the 1980s, when related friction between the two countries escalated. "Japan passing" emerged in the 1990s, used to express the fact that global interest in the country was waning.

"Japan missing" was coined just recently by the Financial Times columnist Philip Stephens, who used it in a July 3 article about Japan shortly before the opening of the Toyako, Hokkaido summit of leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

The crux of his article was that what Japan is thinking and trying to accomplish - mainly in the context of international politics - is beyond his understanding.

Of course, one might logically argue that there is little need for Japan to worry excessively about the opinions of one overseas columnist. Unfortunately, however, I must regretfully admit his "Japan missing" argument has merit, judging from my own experiences at various international conferences and other events.

The theory might also hold true not only regarding Japan's political activities, but for its business sector as well.

Alone with everybody

One Japanese company leader at a recent international symposium in Malaysia complained, "Why has Japan become so inward-looking?"

Such remarks suggest this country now has only a few powerful business leaders who can actually take proactive action to go abroad and get real knowledge about what is happening in the world, in addition to demonstrating Japan's presence internationally.

"This country has slipped back into the period of being an isolated nation," lamented another Japanese executive.

Does Japan actually have no ability to assert itself, or does it have no motivation to take more assertive action?

The simplest answer is that this country's ability to send clear messages to the rest of the world has deteriorated.

The world's second-largest economy earned a high reputation for its top-level manufacturing technology and quality control systems. But today, while on one hand Japanese pop culture has come to be prevalent all over the world, Japan makes little attempt to raise its overall profile in the global arena.

Little urgency

At a recent conference of youth groups held in Tokyo to discuss how to change Japan, Heizo Takenaka - former economic and fiscal policy minister and incumbent professor at Keio University, one of the sponsors for the gathering - spoke about what he had experienced at a one-week symposium held in Hong Kong to discuss the special administrative region's current situation. A number of former foreign governmental officials had been in attendance.

Takenaka said: "I keenly felt Hong Kong's strong sense of crisis regarding its future prospects. Back in Japan, however, there is no such pressing feeling at all."

I personally had an unforgettable experience at a meeting of the 1998 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Political leaders from dozens of nations participated in the meeting - held a year after the Asian region was hit hard by a currency crisis. The goal was to address escalating concerns over the negative effects of the regional turmoil on the world economy, but despite this fact, leading Japanese politicians were all but absent from the event.

The forum's discussions centered on a range of economic issues; for example, which measures major Asian countries should take to alleviate the impact of the crisis, or possibilities for some nations to take advantage of their currency depreciations and boost exports.

During the heated discussion, a Chinese vice premier declared China's readiness not to devaluate its currency, the yuan, and commit itself to contributing to the Asian economy - a statement that earned the country plaudits from other participants.

In contrast, Japan gave only the very unwelcome impression of being a country that can do absolutely nothing of any significance for the outside world.

Stuck on the sidelines

Japan's attitude toward the rest of the world has changed little from those days - highlighting how the country has remained locked in a losing battle with other nations over sending out strong messages to the rest of the world.

During her term in office as foreign minister, upper house member Yoriko Kawaguchi complained that a Japanese foreign minister bound by parliamentary affairs does not have many opportunities to attend international conferences.

Given that the Davos meeting is a place where international opinions are shaped, Japan needs to change its mindset to willingly dispatch its political leaders to the forum. The country would be wise, for instance, to introduce a "truce for Davos" system that would allow the prime minister and other cabinet members to join the economic forum even when the Diet is in session.

Language limitations

It is also worth noting that in this age of globalization, one minimum requirement for carrying out international activities successfully is to have sufficient communication skills to discuss complex matters and persuade other people in English.

At a symposium of business leaders from China and European countries held last year in Frankfurt, I was surprised to find that Chinese executives were able to adequately present their businesses in fluent English, displaying conversation and presentation abilities on a par with those of their European counterparts.

It is becoming painfully clear that Japan is losing its strength in comparison with other countries. Because of this, the country faces an urgent need to work harder than perhaps any other nation to develop its capacity and compensate for its declining clout.

In this sense, Japan has to move quickly to, at the very least, improve its English communication and presentation skills.

And on the whole, Japan must take bold, proactive steps to reverse its course and avoid being slapped with an even more worrisome phrase: "Japan vanishing."

Hirotsugu Koike is a deputy editorial page editor of The Nikkei.