Brief Contents, 2002-2003
2003
Volume 17,Number 1 Spring 2003
The Maturing of Japan-China Ties
- China and Japan in the Age of Globalizaion (RYOSEI KOKUBUN)
Japan and China have polar attitudes toward globalization, reflecting their respective countries' economic and historical backgrounds. Beijing sees it as an opportunity to fuel the nation's growth, and it has been actively promoting direct investment and seeking membership in the World Trade Organization. The explosive growth China has enjoyed has been viewed in Japan with both alarm and excitement, although neither of these views is based on sober analysis. Tokyo and Beijing should work out the kinks in their relationship and cooperatively forge an East Asian free-trade arrangement that is open to the rest of the world.
- China's External Economic Policy and Relations with Japan (HIDEO OHASHI)
China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to conclude a free-trade agreement within 10 years. This brainchild of China's Premier Zhu Rongji could provide the impetus for continued high growth in China and could eat into the dominant position Japan now enjoys in the regional economy. Japan has begun groping for FTAs of its own, prompted by China's aggressive overtures to expand its economic clout and the impasse in multilateral trade negotiations. To be truly effective, though, any regional trade framework should include both Japan and China.
- The Industrial Nation Summit and Japan's Foreign Policy (AKIO WATANABE)
The industrial nation summit began to allow the leaders of the world's top economies to seek practical solutions to pressing "West-West" issues in a quiet setting isolated from the bureaucratic machinery. Participation in the summit symbolized a nation's ascent to the "top of the world," and it has thus held special significance for Japan. Japanese leaders, though, have been hobbled by the fact that they usually participate only once or twice and are the products of a vastly different political culture. The growing emphasis on political and security issues and Japan's own economic woes have further diminished the nation's voice.
- Japanese Diplomacy and the North Korean Problem (YOSHIHIDE SOEYA)
Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi's visit to North Korea was a success that opened the possibility of a historic shift in North Korean policy. In particular, the admission by Pyongyang that it was involved in state-sponsored terrorism--made to secure the survival of the current regime after being labeled part of an "axis of evil" by US President George W. Bush--could, ironically, prove to be its undoing. By framing bilateral issues in a multilateral context, Japan can win over international opinion to its side and prompt further concessions in normalization talks with the reclusive regime.
- 2003 New Year Editorials: A Deepening Sense of Crisis (HIROSHI FUJITA)
Growing irritation and a deepening sense of doom set the tone of the first editorials of 2003 published by Japan's leading dailies. A veteran journalist looks at the main arguments presented.
2002
Volume 16, Number 4 Winter 2002
Africa's Path to Progress
- Sustainable Development and Governance in Africa (RYUTARO HASHIMOTO)
Governance in Africa has been complicated by disruptions to its political, economic, and social evolution caused by invading foreign powers and by arbitrarily imposed national borders. Many African states, though, appear to be finally reaching a stage of greater self-reliance following years of civil strife, corruption, and surrogate conflicts of the Cold War. Lessons of what Africa should avoid in pursuing sustainable development may be gleaned from Japan's experiences in dealing with pollution.
- NEPAD and Governance in the Twenty-first Century (TAKAHASHI MOTOKI)
The New Partnership for Africa's Development is noteworthy for the admission that Africans themselves have been responsible for the failure of earlier development efforts. It seeks improvements in both economic and political governance and is strongly endorsed by aid donors, particularly Britain. But many European scholars remain pessimistic about Africa's development prospects, noting that political systems are inherently instable and tend to reject formal institutions. Administrative organs will need to be strengthened to achieve a sustained improvement in living standards, and in this sense Japan's modernization efforts may offer valuable hints. Donors must recognize that there are "no shortcuts to progress."
- Free Trade Agreements and Japan's Trade Strategy (YORIZUMI WATANABE)
Late starters in the trend toward regional integration, East Asian economies are now moving quickly to form FTAs. As the EU proceeds toward total economic union and the Americas seek out closer ties, regional arrangements are no longer seen as exceptions to the most-favored-nation rule that has upheld multilateralism. Japan inked its first FTA with Singapore and is working toward pacts with Mexico and South Korea. One major hurdle to such agreements is Tokyo's reluctance to liberalize farm trade, but FTAs have the backing of the business community, which recognizes that abstaining from regional integration has drawbacks.
- The Potential of Ecological Sanitation (SABURO MATSUI)
Demand for water will increase over the next several decades as the global population continues to grow, especially in developing countries. The proper disposal of human waste will emerge as a crucial issue in meeting this demand. One viable and environmentally beneficial means of conserving water resources is ecological sanitation, which enables the recycling of household wastewater−particularly for agricultural use−through separation of urine, feces, and other waste. Japan can make a key global contribution based on its unique and highly advanced systems for the collection and treatment of human excreta.
- International Cooperation in Health and Medical Care (ETSUKO KITA)
While more than 90% of illnesses occur in developing nations, only 11% of global health and medical spending is used to treat them. Full-fledged medical care is too expensive to be administered in the world's poorest nations, so emphasis has been placed on primary health care, which calls for individuals to prevent illnesses and promote well-being through their own efforts. International cooperation in the fields of health and medical care should henceforth give priority to improving women's status and tackling poverty.
Volume 16, Number 3 Fall 2002
Reforming a Nation
- Putting Japan's Structural Reform into Perspective (HIROSHI KATO)
Japanes's economic woes have dragged on for over a decade now, and reform of the nation's systems is needed to break the deadlock. People are looking to Prime Minister Junユichiro Koizumi for reform-oriented leadership, but this may not be enough to overcome the stifling power of the bureaucracy. Dealing with the financial industryユs mountain of nonperforming loans, increasing companiesユ reliance on direct financing, and rebuilding public finances will be key steps; giving more power to local governments and reforming taxation are ideal ways for Japan to move forward on the reform front.
- After the Big Bang: Financial Reform in Japan (TORU NAKAKITA)
The Big Bang reforms implemented in the late 1990s sought to make Japan's markets free, fair, and global in their outlook. The reforms liberalized foreign exchange dealings and opened the banking industry to mergers and new entrants. They have not, however, succeeded in shifting Japan's financial landscape to one where investors and companies focus on market-centered direct finance. Further reforms are needed to help banks clear away their bad loans, revamp the tax system, and alter the government financial institutions and agencies, thereby returning vigor to Japan's economy.
- Political Reform in Japan (JIRO YAMAGUCHI)
The last decade has seen a procession of reform attempts in the Japanese political and administrative systems. David Eastonユs model of politics as a system converting societal input into administrative output provides a framework for examining these reforms and their effects. Japan's political system is fatigued and the reforms have not addressed its fundamental flaws; future changes will have to bring about a fresh approach to party politics, a rethinking of the socioeconomic system, and a search for a Japanese "third way."
- Present Conditions and Problems of Japanese Education (AKITO ARIMA)
The Japanese education system was instrumental in preparing the population that made Japan a technological and economic powerhouse in the latter half of the twentieth century. Japanese schools consistently produced students scoring above the global average. But today a new focus is being called for in education, one that gives students room to develop on their own. Will this lead to a decline in student abilities and in Japanese economic power, or will it create talented, independent-thinking young people? The reforms required at Japanese universities deserve particular attention in this connection.
- The Euro's Lessons for an Asian Monetary System (SAHOKO KAJI)
The European Union has at last brought its common currency into full use. The process of monetary union in Europe and the consequences the euro has had for European economies, both internally and externally, bear examination as part of the consideration of a possible common currency in Asia. Could an Asian currency play a valuable role in international economic and financial dealings? What lessons should we take from the experiences of the EU as we approach the issue of Asian monetary union?
Volume 16, Number 2 Summer 2002
Rebuilding Afghanistan
- Aid for Afghanistan: Immediate Needs and Long-Term Considerations(KENZO OSHIMA)
The reconstruction of and humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan are key themes for the international community. The problems the Afghans now face are considerable, and coordinated efforts will be needed to overcome them. How should nations and international groups formulate reconstruction plans that help the Afghan people in the short term and build their nation-giving them ownership of this process-in the longer term? And what sort of role should Japan seek to play in these efforts?
- Counterterrorism and the New World Order: Japan's Role in Afghanistan(MASAYUKI YAMAUCHI)
In January 2002 Japan began to play a central role in Afghan reconstruction. The September 11 terrorism and its aftermath have clarified new dynamics in international relations, particularly in relation to the Muslim world. By strengthening its ties with other Asian countries and by helping Afghanistan to recover from its devastation, Japan can project its values more clearly. The country must define an active role for itself in the rebuilding efforts.
- The Koizumi Government and Demand-Generating Structural Reform(HARUO SHIMADA)
Japan's economy has remained sluggish for over a decade, weighed down by banks' nonperforming loans and people's unwillingness to consume. Deregulation and other structural reforms are the key to get Japan out of this slump, and all eyes are on Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi, who promises to implement these changes. It is hoped that his three types of reform can be carried out quickly and thoroughly.
- China and the WTO: The Effect on China's Sociopolitical Stability(MASAHARU HISHIDA)
China's accession to the World Trade Organization marks the beginning of a new economic phase for that nation, which faces potential conflict with trading partners and internal problems as the inefficiencies of its economic systems are exposed to competition from the world and its political setup is shaken by rapid change. The world will be watching closely to see whether China can overcome these difficulties and comply with its WTO obligations.
- The Role of Science and Technology in Sustainable Development(HISASHI OWADA)
In the past Japan has used the tools of science and technology to overcome severe problems. Today human society faces difficult issues ranging from disease to developmental disparities. The attitude gap between the developed and developing worlds must be overcome if science and technology are to aid humanity today. What areas must we focus on to attain sustainable development for all?
Volume 16, Number 1 Spring 2002
Moving Toward a New East Asian Order
- The Impact of September 11 on China's Key Foreign Relationships(SEIICHIRO TAKAGI)
Last fall's terrorist strikes in New York and Washington reverberated around the world, making themselves felt in East Asia too. This postmodern terrorism, with its connections to globalization, posed new challenges for the region; it also effected shifts in China's relations with other major players in East Asia. Sino-American ties were bolstered by China's recent flexible attitude and the nations'common antiterrorist stance, and Beijing's relations with Tokyo have also been improving following rough spots in the last few years. Chinese ties with Russia improved in the main, building on the momentum of cooperative frameworks involving the two sides. These positive developments present a valuable opportunity to further improve relations between China and these three nations.
- East Asian Regionalism: A Look at the "ASEAN plus Three" Framework(TSUTOMU KIKUCHI)
A growing regional awareness in East Asia can be discerned in the development of ASEAN+3, which groups the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, Japan, and South Korea. Regionalism has been bolstered by the 1997 financial crisis and subsequent moves to establish regional institutions, such as an Asian Monetary Fund, to prevent future recurrences. Chinese ties with ASEAN have warmed despite worries in the region about that nation's growing power; South Korea has also been active in fostering cooperative ties. Japan now has an important part to play in ASEAN+3 to help the region move forward as a whole and face issues ranging from a growing bilateralist trend to a rise in competitive economic relationships within the region.
- Memory as Deterrence: The Moralization of International Politics(KIICHI FUJIWARA)
In the post-Cold War era the focus of international politics has shifted from power-based relations to an order rooted in universal ideals. In this context memories of war serve as signs that nations remain aware of past transgressions and dedicated to the norms of global society, and people's memory is viewed as a mark of their nation's trustworthiness. As international politics has become more morally oriented, hard realism has given way to an attitude that views certain political systems as domestic shortcomings. How should Japan, a country that has received particular attention in the area of war memories, react to the trend toward moralization?
- 2002 New Year Editorials: Worried Looks at the Future(HIROSHI FUJITA)
In their first editorials of the year, Japan's major daily newspapers expressed gloomy visions for the nation's economic prospects. A veteran journalist analyzes the arguments of these tone-setting pieces.
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