Can Shinzo Abe make the bird sing?

Japan is at a precipice of national identity as it struggles to find a leader to guide the nation through the end of this decade. So far, this century has challenged Japan with economic hardships that seem unshakable, a continuing national anxiety over World War II and its postwar Constitution, and most recently, inclusion in jihadi terrorism.

While many prime ministers appeared to be the leader to make significant changes in the past, they have failed. Shinzo Abe, however, seems to be making changes to the fabric of Japan that will revitalize the economy, strengthen Japan’s role in domestic and international security and address cultural issues that cling to outdated policies and practices. This forward movement asks if Abe is making changes as drastic as the reforms made by the unifiers of Japan after the Sengoku Era – the warring period of the late 1600s.

Then, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu each used their different and complementary leadership styles to end hundreds of years of civil war. A simple axiom captures their leadership styles as well as establishes a litmus test for leading Japan. When a priest asked them how they would make a bird sing? Nobunaga replied, “If the bird will not sing, I will kill it;” Hideyoshi replied, “If the bird will not sing, I will make it want to sing;” and Ieyasu said, “If the bird will not sing, I will wait for it to sing.”

The contemporary bird facing Abe is as complex as that of the Sengoku. Abe will have to be as demanding as Nobunaga. The Islamic State saw some of this resolve in his handling of the Japanese hostages. Similarly, Abe, like Hideyoshi, will have to steer Japan through the rocks and shoals of alliance building as Japan seeks to take a larger role in international politics – specifically using their defense forces to protect national interests on a footing with normalized nations. Finally, similar to Ieyasu, Abe will have to place Japan on a course that will maximize long-term relationships with its allies while reinventing Japan’s identity.

This situation solicits the overarching question of who is the bird? To Abe, the bird sports the colorful contour feathers of internationalism. The bird has been recovering from its defeat in World War II and it is looking for an identity built on more than shame. Adding to the wounds of 60 years of humiliation is the economic crisis of 2008 that left in its shadow a hobbled economy. Abenomics has so far attempted to work with the Bank of Japan to stabilize pricing with an eye to growth as well as address the national deficit; however, recovery is still beyond the horizon.

The contemporary bird also represents an aging population, equalization for women, and an economy with outdated employment practices. The contemporary identity of the bird is truly global, though it retains a rich historical perspective. Actions to regain portions of its historical identity meet with complaints from countries that desire to keep Japan in a perpetual cage, a confinement that prevents Japan from marrying its progressiveness to its past. The misperceptions of Japan’s past imperialism unwarrantedly serve as justification for many world leaders to create a competitive edge in the global economy.

The international security environment is becoming more volatile as extreme violence captures the headlines in countries around the world. With the brutal execution of two Japanese citizens by the Islamic State, Japan entered the world of jihadi terrorism. Markedly noted in the Islamic State’s executions was the fact that Japan did not constitutionally possess the means to rescue their citizens. This highlights Abe’s proposed reinterpretation of the Constitution’s Article 9, which is causing concern over a remilitarized Japan. Yet, the United States is tiring of carrying the burden of security for a nation that is more than capable of taking on a larger role in its own security.

Another international concern is sovereignty to territory claimed by Japan and other nations in the Pacific region. Leading the sovereignty claims are the Senkaku Islands with China and the Kurile Islands (or Northern territories, as Japan calls them) with Russia. Of course, the underlying cause driving these debates rest on natural resources associated with the contested islands. Additionally, there are also other land disputes with Taiwan and South Korea to resolve.

The question raised in respect to the axiom, is if Abe is the one to make the bird sing. Abe’s three arrow strategies to revitalize the economy are sluggish but working, but is it enough? A positive note in Abe’s actions is questioning policy on the use of force for its military forces outside Japan. This move, like that of the unifiers, is again opening international prospects for Japan. If Japan wants to be a world leader, its actions need to reflect the confidence and direction of a country not restricted by old fears and beliefs.

The bird is starting to move from its long held position on the branch of leadership. The people of Japan and the world are watching as intently as did the axiom’s priest did. If the Zen priest asks Shinzo Abe how he will make the bird sing today, I think his response would be, “If the bird will not sing, I will show it the value of singing.”

© Japan Today