Short summary
After its surrender in 1945, Japan reinvented itself as a peace nation. According to its Constitution, the nation forever renounces war as a sovereign right.
Today, however, Japan is one of the strongest military powers in Asia, defence spending is increasing, and new military bases are under construction.
In this panel debate, four scholars of Japan discuss the question: is Japan still a peace nation?
Panelists
Wrenn Yennie Lindgren (NUPI)
Wrenn Yennie Lindgren will discuss the wider politics of Japan’s ongoing militarisation.
The longstanding debate about how to understand Japan’s role in promoting global peace has recently been sparked at a heightened level, as a new generation of Japanese security policy documents suggest that the pacifist nation will undergo ambitious and unprecedented defence reforms.
This will make it one of the most modern forces in the Asia-Pacific and potentially the world’s third largest defence spender.
As the United States’ primary defence ally in the East Asian region, and an increasingly active partner in multinational security and defence cooperation with regional and global powers, the importance of Japan’s role in global peace and security is considered to be paramount.
What objectives is Japan pursuing and how do these relate to Japan’s promotion of proactive pacifism? And how has the Japanese public, with a strong antimilitarist tradition, reacted to these developments?
Aike P. Rots (UiO)
Aike P. Rots introduces some influential nationalist-conservative and religious organisations.
The issue of pacifism engages grassroots movements on both sides of the spectrum. The most prominent group on the anti-pacifist wing of this debate is the so-called Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi), an umbrella organisation that includes powerful politicians, religious leaders, businesspersons, and conservative citizens.
In terms of organisation and ideology, there is some overlap between Nippon Kaigi and religious institutions that have been active in political lobbying, including the Association of Shinto Shrines, the lay Buddhist movement Sōka Gakkai, and the Unification Church, which has been subject to much controversy recently.
What role do these organisations play in present-day Japan? How do they envision the future?
Marius Palz (UiO)
Marius Palz discusses groups on the other side of the political spectrum.
Peace activists advocate for a continuity of Japan’s pacifist tradition, including harsh critiques of rising security expenditures and of the increasing rhetoric of a “China threat” employed by conservative politicians, right-wing groups, and parts of the Japanese public.
These anti-militarist groups stress the importance of protecting Article 9 of the Constitution. Especially during the years of Abe Shinzō’s government and its attempts to abolish Article 9 as well as its proclamation of “collective self-defence”, people protested in front of the National Parliament.
Other examples of peace movements come from Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa, where parts of the local population and supporters from throughout Japan protest against the current fortification of the island chain, which is located in vicinity of Taiwan.
What alternatives to militarisation do these activists envision for Japan’s future? What other motives do they have for protesting against the central government?
Rebecca Suter (UiO)
Rebecca Suter discusses the significance of popular culture for these developments.
Popular culture always has ideological connotations and is often used to manipulate public opinion in many parts of the world.
In Japan, in the past fifty years or so some specific popular media, manga (comics) and anime (animated cartoons), have come to play a particularly significant role in the public debate.
The themes of militarism and pacifism are no exception; governmental bodies as well as activist groups use manga to disseminate their views on topics like reforming Article 9 of the Constitution.
Commercially published manga with large audiences, both pacifist and militarist ones, are also frequently at the centre of major public controversies, such as the attempt by historical revisionist associations to have Nakazawa Keiji’s anti-war children classic Barefoot Gen (1973-1987) removed from school libraries in 2012, or the constantly renewed debates surrounding Kobayashi Yoshinori’s far-right comic series Arrogance Manifesto (1992-present).
Can we read these manga and anime as an expression of public sentiment on these issues? And how do Japanese popular media contribute to the public debate on pacifism and militarism?
Registration
The event is free and open to all, and we appreciate if you register.
Welcome!
The event will be held at Domus Bibliotheca, UiO's new arena for dialogue and dissemination. If you need an elevator or any other form of accommodation when visiting us, please call this number: 90 13 17 55.
About Oslo Peace Days
Oslo municipality, the Nobel Peace Center, the Norwegian Nobel Institute, PRIO, and the University of Oslo work for peace and human rights in various ways.
Every December, we come together and organize Oslo Peace Days, an arena where everyone is invited to discuss and learn more about these important themes.