JIN-333 -- New Currents in Views of the War

========================================================
T H E J @ P A N I N C N E W S L E T T E R
Commentary on the Week's Business, Technology and Cultural News
========================================================

Issue No. 333
Thursday August 18, 2005 TOKYO

+++ VIEWPOINT: New Currents in Views of the War
1. The 50th Anniversary as Starting Point
2. A Phlegmatic View of History

========================================================
SAITAMA TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

Leading Saitama manufacturers will give presentations and
exhibit their technologies and products at the “Saitama
Technology Showcase” in Roppongi, Tokyo. These R&D-intensive
companies, represent the best of the new wave of Saitama
innovation. Why come? Because out of the 50+ companies,
it is highly likely that at least one will make an ideal
business partner.

The event also includes presentations by venture businesses
from the Saitama-based Institute of Physical and Chemical
Research -- lots of breakthrough technology on display.
Date & Time: AUGUST 26th, 2005 / 10:00~16:00
Venue: JETRO Tokyo Office 5F
Please visit
http://www.japaninc.com/saitama/index.html for details.

========================================================
Have you got a web-related problem you wish would just go away?

Have you got a project that just does not belong in your data
center? A web application that is unusable? A project that has
been back-burnered because of bottlenecks in the internal
infrastructure?

We make problems go away!

Ashley Associates (http://www.ashleyassociates.co.jp) is one
of Japan's largest web consultancies and production companies
with a full range of services from usability consulting to
web-application outsourcing.

Please contact info@ashleyassociates.co.jp or Karl Hahne on
(03) 5469-2849 for more information.
========================================================

+++ VIEWPOINT: New Currents in Views of the War
1. The 50th Anniversary as Starting Point

Mid-August, with the anniversaries of the Hiroshima (the 6th) and
Nagasaki (the 9th) atomic bombings and capitulation (the 15th),
is a time of remembrance in Japan. Newspapers devote entire pages
to war timelines and reminiscences, and TV stations broadcast the
Hiroshima Peace Ceremony and countless documentaries. This was
especially true this year, which marked the 60th anniversary of the
end of the Second World War, 60th anniversaries being known as
"kanreki," the end of the traditional sexagenary cycle.

Historical debate in the 10 years leading to the 60th anniversary has
evolved since the 50th anniversary. It began with Prime Minister
Murayama's apology in 1995 for "colonialism and invasion," which
marked a new junction in Japanese politics. In the same year was
established the Asian Women's Fund, which provided compensation
to former "comfort women" (women forced to provide sex to the
Imperial Japanese Army).

The Murayama statement has come to represent the Japanese
government's official understanding of history. Prime Minister Koizumi
has said he shares that understanding, yet his four visits to Yasukuni
Shrine have largely negated any goodwill gained in China and Korea
by his purported support of the Murayama statement.

The 50th anniversary of the war was, in retrospect, perhaps less
a point of demarcation than the starting point of new currents in
the historical debate.

"Our generation was not involved in the conduct of the war; we have
no reason to search our consciences," remarked Sanae Takaichi
in 1995, when she was a 34-year-old representative of the New
Frontier Party. "No one should demand we reflect on our past conduct.
"Her remark seemed to signal a change of generation in awareness of
history. Indeed, Masayuki Fujio (88), Seisuke Okuno (92) and others
of the prewar generation who denied Japan had invaded other
countries were retiring from politics. The younger generation is now
consciously reevaluating history. They are perhaps motivated
by a desire to free themselves from the feeling of being under siege
as the Japanese economy slumbers and China rises.

========================================================
ANZCCJ

For Australian and New Zealand professionals in Japan. Give
yourself an advantage. Become a member of the Australian &
New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ). The ANZCCJ
provides a unique opportunity to stay up to date with matters
of interest to you in Japan as well as providing regular
opportunities to meet with and hear from senior politicians
and business people on a range of interesting topics.
Visit www.anzccj.jp for more information or contact the
Secretariat Manager - Ph 03 5157 5615, email: manager@anzccj.jp
========================================================

2. A Phlegmatic View of History

1995 was also the year when the Society for a Liberal View of History
(later the Committee for Creating New History Textbooks) was formed.
Criticism of this organization as a proponent of a masochistic view
of history continues today.

These different trends have created new frictions with China and Korea,
but Japan is a pluralistic society; public opinion is not monolithic. Exit
the world of politics and discussion and you get a different perspective.

Korea and Japan were awarded joint sponsorship of the World Cup
in 1996. Against the background of tense Korean-Japanese relations,
there were fears the passionate support of young fans would
exacerbate nationalism. However, the 2002 World Cup was a shining
success that ushered an era of fresh interest in things Korean that
has even weathered anti-Japanese flare-ups over Takeshima Island and
Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Likewise, in spite of the anti-Japan demonstrations that swept China
earlier this year, the Japanese public remained calm. These past
10 years Japanese society has generally adopted a phlegmatic view
of history, and kept a lid on emotions with respect to neighboring
countries. This trend is encouraging, and makes us look forward to
the Japanese historical view ten years hence.

--Burritt Sabin

========================================================
JIC Sponsored Interviews

You read Terrie's Take and JIN, and so do 54,000 other
executives inside and outside Japan. Let them know what your
company does, with our new Sponsored Interviews service.
We create a lead-in for the interview, and run it within the
newsletters, with links back to the page holding the full
interview. For a small additional charge, we will also run it
in the Japan Inc magazine, the www.japan.com website, and the
www.japaninc.com web site for archiving. Cumulatively, your
message will be seen by at least 120,000 English-language readers.

E-mail: sales@japaninc.com for more information.

========================================================
BiOS IT Support Services

Introduce some discipline and control to your IT infrastructure
by getting a quotation from BiOS for J-E bilingual support and
engineering. With 50+ engineers, we have the size and experience
to look after most sites and projects. Whether you have one
person or one hundred, we welcome all customers.

For more info: technology@biosjp.com.
http://www.biosjp.com
========================================================

SUBSCRIBERS: 30,504 as of August 18, 2005

EDITOR
Written and edited by Burritt Sabin (editors2@japaninc.com)

(C) Copyright 2005 Japan Inc Communications KK. All Rights Reserved.