Origin In Japan Research Articles

Assessing Japan’s Taiwan Policy: Systemic Clarity, Political Survival and Bureaucratic Prudence

ABSTRACT What are the patterns of Japan’s foreign policy behavior toward Taiwan in the post-Cold War era? It is generally taken for granted that the origin of Japan’s foreign policy to Taiwan has been derived from a unitary strategic calculation related to East Asian international politics and its maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. This conventional interpretation is insufficient. While external pressure and states’ relative material capabilities within the structure of the international system are crucial in explaining Japan’s policy toward Taiwan, interpretations based solely on the system level of analysis fail to provide a persuasive explanation of Japan’s foreign policy behavior. By conducting three case studies in 2006, 2019 and 2021 through the theoretical lens of neoclassical realism and empirical investigation based on primary and secondary Japanese-language sources, this article argues that Japan’s Taiwan policy has been shaped by the combination of three factors: the degree of systemic clarity at the international level, the Japanese prime minister’s political survival and bureaucratic prudence over the Taiwan issue at the domestic level. Since 2021, Japan has adopted a subtle approach to Taiwan, driven more by a defensive and precautionary response to the heightened sense of crisis across the Taiwan Strait.

Population genomics of the invasive Northern Giant Hornet Vespa mandarinia in North America and across its native range

The northern giant hornet Vespa mandarinia (NGH) is a voracious predator of other insect species, including honey bees. NGH’s native range spans subtropical and temperate regions across much of east and southeast Asia and, in 2019, exotic populations of the species were discovered in North America. Despite this broad range and invasive potential, investigation of the population genomic structure of NGH across its native and introduced ranges has thus far been limited to a small number of mitochondrial samples. Here, we present analyses of genomic data from NGH individuals collected across the species’ native range and from exotic individuals collected in North America. We provide the first survey of whole-genome population variation for any hornet species, covering this species’ native and invasive ranges, and in doing so confirm likely origins in Japan and South Korea for the two introductions. We additionally show that, while this introduced population exhibited strongly elevated levels of inbreeding, these signatures of inbreeding are also present in some long-standing native populations, which may indicate that inbreeding depression alone is insufficient to prevent the persistence of NGH populations. As well as highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and eradication efforts to limit the spread of this species outside of its natural range, our data will serve as a foundational database for future genomic studies into introduced hornet populations.

First Detection of Chimeric β-Lactamase CTX-M-64-Producing Salmonella Typhimurium from a Domestic Source in Japan.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium has recently emerged worldwide as a producer of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). However, drug-resistant clinical isolates are rare in Japan. The common types of ESBLs found are the CTX-M-type β-lactamases, including novel β-lactamases such as CTX-M-64. CTX-M-64 has a chimeric structure comprising a combination of the CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-9 groups. In 2017, S. Typhimurium was isolated from stool, blood, and urine cultures of an 82-year-old man. Herein, we describe the discovery of a clinical isolate of S. Typhimurium in Japan. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolate was resistant to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, including ceftazidime and monobactam. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of ceftazidime and ceftriaxone were restored by administration of clavulanic acid. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that the isolate harbored the blaCTX-M-64 gene on an IncHI2/IncHI2A-type plasmid, with an assembly length of 174,477 bp. The genetic structure of the region surrounding the blaCTX-M-64 gene, ISKpn26-ΔISEcp1-blaCTX-M-64-orf477, was shared only with the chromosome sequence of S. Typhimurium detected in food-producing chickens in Guangdong, China. Although rare, S. Typhimurium can induce bloodstream infections and produce ESBL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a CTX-M-64-producing Enterobacterales clinical isolate of domestic origin in Japan.

Evolutionary analysis of all eleven genes of species C rotaviruses circulating in humans and domestic animals

Species C rotaviruses (RVC) are the second most common rotavirus species known to cause gastroenteritis in humans and pigs and with occurrence documented in cattle, dogs, ferrets, and sloth bears. Despite the host-specific nature of RVC genotypes, cross-species transmission, reassortment, and recombination events are also documented. In the present study, we inferred the evolutionary history of globally circulating RVC strains, including time scale stasis, the most probable ancestral country, and the most probable source host using Bayesian methods implemented in BEAST v.1.8.4.The human-derived RVC strains were majorly monophyletic and further grouped into two lineages. The RVC strains derived from pigs were monophyletic for the VP1 and the remaining genes were classified into 2 to 4 groups based on the high posterior support. The root mean age for all the genes indicated the circulation of RVC for over 800 years. Overall, the time to Most Recent Common Ancestor of human RVC strains dated back to the beginning of the 20th century. The VP7 and NSP2 genes had the lowest rates of evolution compared to other genes. The majority of the genes of RVC showed their origin in Japan except for VP7 and VP4 genes in South Korea. The phylogeographic analysis with the country as a trait showed the role of Japan, China, and India in the dispersion of the virus. In the current study, significant transmission links between different hosts were analyzed for the first time using the host as a trait. Significant transmission links between pigs and other animal species as well as humans indicate possible transmission from the pig as a source host and suggest monitoring of proximity with animals.

Cross-Border Transmissions of the Delta Substrain AY.29 During Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, postponed for the COVID-19 pandemic, were finally held in the summer of 2021. Just before the games, the Alpha variant was being replaced with the more contagious Delta variant. AY.4 substrain AY.29, which harbors two additional characteristic mutations of 5239C > T (NSP3 Y840Y) and 5514T > C (NSP3 V932A), emerged in Japan and became dominant in Tokyo by the time of the Olympic Games. Variants of SARS-CoV-2 genomes were performed to extract AY.29 Delta substrain samples with 5239C > T and 5514T > C. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to illustrate how AY.29 strains evolved and were introduced into countries abroad. Simultaneously, ancestral searches were performed for the overseas AY.29 samples to identify their origins in Japan using the maximum variant approach. As of January 10, 2022, 118 samples were identified in 20 countries. Phylogenetic analysis and ancestral searches identified 55 distinct introductions into those countries. The United States had 50 samples with 10 distinct introductions, and the United Kingdom had 13 distinct strains introduced in 18 samples. Other countries or regions with multiple introductions were Canada, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Philippines. Among the 20 countries, most European and North American countries have vaccination rates over 50% and sufficient genomic surveillances are conducted; transmissions seem contained. However, propagation to unvaccinated regions might have caused unfathomable damages. Since samples in those unvaccinated countries are also undersampled with a longer lead time for data sharing, it will take longer to grasp the whole picture. More rigorous departure screenings for the participants from the unvaccinated countries might have been necessary.

Society 5.0: Human Centric, Decentralized, and Hyperautomated

The articles in this special section focus on the concept of Society 5.0. The five articles provide a glimpse of the human-centric applications and approaches in our continuously evolving digital society. With the rapid developments and proliferation of IoT, cyber-physical systems, AI, autonomous and mobility technologies, cyber (virtual) space and physical (real) space are converging. Such advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) have brought progress in industrial automation and economic growth. As things, people, and devices are increasingly connected, another digital revolution that focuses on human, social, and environmental needs is underway. Having its origin in Japan, Society 5.0 attempts to bring social and environmental concerns into the midst of a digital society. Conceptually, Society 5.0 is defined as “a human-centered (smart) society that balances economic advancement with the resolution of social problems by a system that highly integrates cyberspace and physical space.” a For a human-centered society, technologies can contribute significant value to many fields, such as mobility, healthcare and caregiving, manufacturing and infrastructures, food and agriculture, energy and climate, and disaster prevention. All the previous are in complete accordance with IEEE’s core purpose to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.

The Origins of Japan’s Contemporary Diplomatic Strategy in East Asia: 2001–2012

Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, Japan’s East Asia policy saw the emergence of several new strategies and initiatives. The two key strategies of this period were the East Asian Community and the Arc of Freedom and Prosperity, which reflected differing approaches towards the role of China in the developing regional order. The goal of this article is to analyse the ideological foundations of these two strategies, as well as the reasons behind their failure. It also examines the question of why Japan’s diplomatic initiatives changed so rapidly during these years. Finally, the article looks at the shifts in Sino-Japanese relations which represent a key variable in the evolution of Japan’s East Asia policy. While Japan’s East Asian policy of this period is well researched in Russian academic literature, the majority of studies examine the policies of specific prime ministers, with Asian diplomacy typically viewed within the framework of foreign policy in general. Meanwhile, a more dynamic analysis of the development of Japan’s regional strategy is lacking, and it is this gap that this article attempts to fill. Based on the analysis of Japanese government documents, as well as a wide range of studies of Japan’s foreign policy by Russian and foreign scholars, from monographs and academic journals to online outlets, it presents the evolution of Japan’s strategy in East Asia as a competition between two foreign policy initiatives, the East Asian Community and the Arc of Freedom and Prosperity. The article also highlights the prime ministers’ personal views and beliefs, which had a significant effect on creating a particular strategy. The article concludes that the two aforementioned strategies were underpinned by different political philosophies, with the East Asian Community aiming to accelerate East Asian integration based on common economic interests and embracing China, while the Arc of Freedom and Prosperity prioritised relations with countries sharing Japan’s democratic values and viewed China as a regional outsider. It was precisely Sino-Japanese ties, however, that were perhaps the biggest reason why neither strategy achieved much success at the time; either Japan considered the bilateral relations too economically beneficial to deliberately alienate China, or they suffered from too much tension which precluded further development of economic relations.

A Grave for the King and His People: Documenting the Excavation of the Tsuki-no-wa Tomb (1953-1954)

In the summer of 1953, the small village of Yukamura in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, became a major archeological site. The excavation of the Tsuki-no-wa tomb (created in late 4th — early 5th century) was initiated by the local residents with no professional training in archeology. The project became one of the most ambitious and successful endeavors of the People’s History Movement (kokumin-teki rekishigaku undo) led by the Marxist historians in early 1950s in Japan. The “memory” of the excavation has been meticulously documented in scientific papers, tourist pamphlets, individual memoirs, as well as in the film. A short documentary, The Tsuki-no-wa Tomb (1954), was created at the behest of the people involved in the project. While the film was favorably received by the critics, the Minister of Education refused to grant it with an official “recommendation.” Today the short documentary is considered a symbol of the political and cultural mainstream, which adheres to the ideas of social equality and democracy, the importance of a scientific approach, the concept of the “monoethnic” origins of Japan, and the symbolic status of the emperor. In this paper, the paradoxical role of the Japanese leftists in supporting the dominant worldview is examined though the study of The Tsuki-no-wa Tomb. Through analyzing the cinematic text, as well as the history of its production and reception, we come to a better understanding of the ideological and organizational underpinnings of the People’s History Movement, illuminating the film’s role in the development of historical science and documentary filmmaking in postwar Japan.

A Study on the Electronization of Certificates of Origin in Japan

본 연구는 한국과 교역량이 많으면서 인접해 있는 일본 비특혜원산지증명서의 전자화 검토를 통해 우리 정부 측면에서 유의해야 할 사항을 살펴보고 정책적 제언을 하는 것이 목적이다. 이를 위해 한국을 포함한 미국, 영국, 프랑스, 싱가포르의 원산지증명서 전자화 현황을 살펴보고, 일본의 비특혜원산지증명서 관련 문헌을 검토하였다. 연구 결과, 우리정부는 일본과 비특혜원산지증명서 교환시스템 플랫폼 구축을 통해 교역의 원활화를 기대할 수 있을 것이며, 일본 비특혜원산지증명서 전자화에 대한 내용 홍보를 통해 기업들이 불이익을 받는 사례가 없도록 해야 할 것이다. 따라서 한국 정부는 일본 비특혜원산지증명서의 전자화 내용을 주의 깊게 검토할 필요가 있다.

Four Case Reports of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Two Wuhan-resident Chinese and Two Cruise Ship Passengers Admitted to Our Hospital

St. Lukeʼs International Hospital had been accepting a large number of patients with mild to severe COVID-19, before COVID-19 became a designated infectious disease on February 1, 2020. The first patient with COVID-19 admitted to our hospital was a man in his 40s from Wuhan, the second case of COVID-19 registered in Japan, and officially, the first case in a person of Chinese origin in Japan. The third patient, a Canadian man in his 60s who contracted the infection in the cruise ship, Diamond Princess, had very severe disease. However, his clinical symptoms improved and he was discharged from the hospital. In this paper,we discuss four cases of COVID-19.

Association of Fine Particulate Matter Exposure With Bystander-Witnessed Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest of Cardiac Origin in Japan

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are a major public health concern and a leading cause of death worldwide. Exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increases in morbidity and mortality and has been recognized as a leading contributor to global disease burden. To examine the association between short-term exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM2.5) and the incidence of OHCAs of cardiac origin and with the development of initial cardiac arrest rhythm. This case-control study used data from cases registered between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2016, in the All-Japan Utstein Registry, a prospective, nationwide, population-based database for OHCAs across all 47 Japanese prefectures. These OHCA cases included patients who had bystander-witnessed OHCAs and for whom emergency medical services responders initiated resuscitation before hospital transfer. A case-crossover design was employed for the study analyses. A prefecture-specific, conditional logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios was applied, and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to obtain prefecture-specific pooled estimates. All analyses were performed from May 7, 2019, to January 23, 2020. The main outcome was the association of short-term PM2.5 exposure with the incidence of bystander-witnessed OHCAs of cardiac origin. The differences in the distribution of initial cardiac arrest rhythm in OHCAs among those with exposure to PM2.5 were also examined. In total, 103 189 OHCAs witnessed by bystanders were included in the final analysis. Among the patients who experienced such OHCAs, the mean (SD) age was 75 (15.5) years, and 62 795 (60.9%) were men. Point estimates of the percentage increase for a 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 at lag0-1 (difference in mean PM2.5 concentrations measured on the case day and 1 day before) demonstrated a statistically significantly higher incidence of OHCA across most of the 47 prefectures, without significant heterogeneity (I2 = 20.1%; P = .12). A stratified analysis found an association between PM2.5 exposure and OHCAs (% increase, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.1%-3.1%). An initial shockable rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (% increase, 0.6; 95% CI, -2.0% to 3.2%), was not associated with PM2.5 exposure. However, an initial nonshockable rhythm, such as pulseless electrical activity and asystole, was associated with PM2.5 exposure (% increase, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.1%-2.7%). Findings from this study suggest that increased PM2.5 concentration is associated with bystander-witnessed OHCA of cardiac origin that commonly presents with nonshockable rhythm. The results support measures to reduce PM2.5 exposure to prevent OHCAs of cardiac origin.

Wastewater as a Probable Environmental Reservoir of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase Genes: Detection of Chimeric β-Lactamases CTX-M-64 and CTX-M-123.

The presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in aquatic environments is a serious public health concern. This study focused on Escherichia coli possessing blaCTX-M genes in wastewater inflows. Twelve crude inflow water samples from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) A and two samples each from three other WWTPs were collected in 2017 and 2018. A total of 73 E. coli isolates with 31 different sequence types (STs) harboring distinctive blaCTX-M gene repertoires were detected. In WWTP A influents, blaCTX-M-14 (14 isolates) was dominant, followed by blaCTX-M-15 (12 isolates) and blaCTX-M-27 (10 isolates). The chimeric blaCTX-M-64 and blaCTX-M-123 genes were each identified in one of the E. coli isolates from the same WWTP A inflow port. The blaCTX-M-27 gene was associated with five of seven B2-ST131 isolates, including three isolates of the B2-O25b-ST131-H30R/non-Rx lineage. One of the remaining two isolates belonged to the B2-O25b-ST131-H30R/Rx lineage harboring the blaCTX-M-15 gene. As for the B2-O25b-ST131-H30R/non-Rx lineage, two isolates with blaCTX-M-27 were recovered from each of the WWTP B and D influents, and one isolate with blaCTX-M-174 was also recovered from WWTP B influent. Whole-genome sequencing of chimeric blaCTX-M-harboring E. coli isolates revealed that the blaCTX-M-64 gene was integrated into the chromosome of ST10 E. coli B22 via ISEcp1-mediated transposition of a 9,467-bp sequence. The blaCTX-M-123-carrying IncI1 plasmid pB64 was 109,169 bp in length with pST108. The overall findings suggest that wastewater may act as a probable reservoir of clinically significant clonal lineages mediating antimicrobial resistance genes and chimeric genes that have not yet been identified from human isolates of domestic origin in Japan.IMPORTANCE Global spread of CTX-M-type extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a critical concern in both clinical and community settings. This dominance of CTX-M-type ESBL producers may be largely due to the successful international spread of epidemic clones, as represented by the extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST131. Our findings highlight the worrisome presence of diverse E. coli clones associated with humans, including ExPEC lineages harboring the most common blaCTX-M variants in untreated wastewater samples. Moreover, the chimeric genes blaCTX-M-64 and blaCTX-M-123, which have not yet been identified from human isolates of domestic origin in Japan, were identified. Exposure to untreated wastewater through combined sewer overflow caused by heavy rains derived from abnormal weather change could pose a risk for human health due to ingesting those antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

‘The silent fight’: submarine rearmament and the origins of Japan’s military engagement with the Cold War, 1955–76

ABSTRACT This paper examines new Japanese primary source materials to reassess the significance of Japanese rearmament during the early stages of the Cold War in two ways. First, the paper shows how, in the area of submarine development, the post-war navy approached rearmament as an opportunity to address wartime failures with the support and professional mentorship of the US Navy. Second, whilst submarines were considered as outside the scope of Japanese defence posture, the navy had a crucial agency role in shaping how this branch of naval warfare was integrated into the country’s strategy with significant consequences for the later stages of the Cold War.

Impact of the consumption tax rate increase on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan: an interrupted time series analysis

ObjectivesThe Japanese government increased the consumption tax rate from 5% to 8% on 1 April 2014. The impact of this policy on the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is...

National Police Reserve: The Origin of Japan’s Self Defense Force

National Police Reserve: The Origin of Japan’s Self Defense Force

Distribution and evolution of citrus with S 4 and/or S 5 gene alleles for self-incompatibility with special focus on the origin of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.; S f S 4 )

Gametophytic self-incompatibility, one of the key characters for seedless citrus production, is controlled by single codominant gene S known in pummelo, mandarin and their hybrid cultivars. However, little is known about S genotypes and S allele frequencies in Citrus cultivars. First, S genotypes and S allele frequencies of Citrus accessions were studied with S 4 and S 5 gene alleles of ‘Hassaku’ (C. hassaku hort. ex Tanaka) a putative hybrid between self-incompatible pummelo [C. maxima (Burm.) Merrill; syn. C. grandis Osbeck] and ‘Kunenbo’ (C. nobilis Lour. var. kunep Tanaka). About 200 Citrus accessions were pollinated with each of the homozygous S1 seedlings (S 4 S 4 and S 5 S 5 ) of ‘Hassaku’. Pollen tube arrest in the styles indicated that 19 of 202 (9.4%) accessions have an S 4 allele and 12 of 191 (6.3%) accessions have an S 5 allele. In pummelo, the rate of accessions with S 4 allele was 1.4% (1/72), while that with S 5 allele was 5.9% (9/76). This suggests that the two alleles are originated from pummelo and the allele frequency is 0.7% (1/144) for S 4 and 5.9% (9/152) for S 5 . Except ‘Kunenbo’, all accessions with S 4 alleles have their origin in Japan. These results suggest that self-incompatible ‘Kunenbo’ (S 4 S ? ) introduced from Southeast Asia to Japan about 600 years ago firstly generated satsuma mandarin (S f S 4 ) and ‘Kabuchii’ (S 4 S ? ) about 400–500 years ago, followed by 16 S 4 -carrying cultivars including ‘Hassaku’ (S 4 S 5 ) appearing as a chance seedling in Hiroshima in the nineteenth century.

How teachers respond to students’ mistakes in lessons

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to capitalize on the advantages of an evidence-based lesson analysis while proposing a method of research on teaching that offers opportunities for deeper reflections. The objective is to examine how well a transnational learning project such as this one can determine the cultural script of a mathematics lesson in Malaysia through the perspective of Japanese educators well trained in the lesson study approach. Emphasis here is on a cross-cultural analysis to view in depth the cultural script of teaching mathematics in Malaysia with particular focus on how teachers respond to students’ mistakes in a mathematics lesson.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on data collected by the authors in a lesson study in Malaysia that aimed to provide a cross-cultural analysis of a Malaysian mathematics lesson (grade 10) through the eyes of Japanese educators. Data retrieved should determine the cultural script of a mathematics class in Malaysia with an emphasis on Malaysian teachers’ responses to students’ mistakes in class. The cross-cultural analysis of a lesson is a comparative method that reveals the hidden factors at play by increasing awareness of characteristics in classroom situations that are self-evident to all involved members.FindingsThe findings are intended to the cultural script of Malaysia in the context of “classroom culture regarding mistakes” and “mistake management behavior.” The impact on the quality of teaching and learning also discussed in relation to how it can be improved in practice from the following perspectives: the teacher’s attitudes toward student mistakes; how mistakes are treated and dealt with in class; and how learning from mistakes is managed. The data in Table II provide a meta-analysis of evidences of “classroom culture regarding mistakes” and “mistake management behavior” of the teacher from the Malaysian researchers and practitioners’ perspective as well as from the lens of the Japanese educators.Research limitations/implicationsThis study realizes that both sets of research studies value the importance of mistakes. It is important to identify the source of students’ mistakes and further learn from them. In order to reveal the overall structure of the cultural script of lessons, we need to realize that various cultural scripts are at work in the production of any given lesson. In the future, the authors hope to develop the potential of this view of culture script of teaching through cross-cultural analysis for lesson study and curriculum research and development.Practical implicationsThis study aims to capitalize on the advantages of evidence-based lesson analysis through the lesson study process while proposing a method of research on teaching that offers opportunities for deeper reflections. The objective is to examine how well a transnational learning project such as this one can determine the cultural script of a mathematics lesson in Malaysia through the perspective of Japanese educators well trained in the lesson study methodology.Social implicationsThe authors need to obtain reflective feedback based on concrete facts, and for this reason “lesson study,” a pedagogical approach with its origins in Japan, is attracting global attention from around the world. This study focuses on the discrete nature, the progression, significance, and the context of lessons. That is, by avoiding excessive abstraction and generalization, reflection based on concrete facts and dialogue retrieved from class observations can be beneficial in the process. The mutual and transnational learning between teachers that occurs during the lesson study process can foster the building and sharing of knowledge in teaching practice.Originality/valueThere is currently little empirical research addressing “classroom culture regarding mistakes” which mostly represents how teachers and students learn from mistakes in the classroom. This study focuses on a cross-cultural analysis to view in depth the cultural script of teaching mathematics in Malaysia with particular focus on how teachers respond to students’ mistakes in a mathematics lesson. The following perspectives are examined: the teacher’s attitudes toward student mistakes; how mistakes are treated and dealt with in class; and how learning from mistakes is managed.

Korea's Challenges Ahead-Lessons from Japan's Experience

This paper draws out the parallels between Korea and Japan in terms of demographics, potential growth, balance sheets, asset prices and inflation. Korea's demographic trends seem to track Japan's with a lag of about 20 years. Low productivity in the service sector and labor market duality are common to both countries and need to be addressed with structural reforms. While Korea's corporate balance sheets are stronger than Japan's in the early 1990s, Korea needs to progress with the restructuring of nonviable firms to avoid the adverse consequences of delayed balance-sheet repair that Japan experienced. Given its strong fiscal balance sheet position, Korea can afford using fiscal policy actively to incentivize corporate restructuring and structural reforms and cushion their possible short-term adverse impact. Korea can prevent bubbles in asset prices that were at the origin of Japan's initial crisis with the continued use of macroprudential policies. Although Korea does not appear to be headed toward deflation, new econometric analysis presented in the paper suggests that aging will exert a downward drag on its inflation going forward.

Korea's Challenges Ahead-Lessons from Japan's Experience

This paper draws out the parallels between Korea and Japan in terms of demographics, potential growth, balance sheets, asset prices and inflation. Korea’s demographic trends seem to track Japan’s with a lag of about 20 years. Low productivity in the service sector and labor market duality are common to both countries and need to be addressed with structural reforms. While Korea’s corporate balance sheets are stronger than Japan’s in the early 1990s, Korea needs to progress with the restructuring of nonviable firms to avoid the adverse consequences of delayed balance-sheet repair that Japan experienced. Given its strong fiscal balance sheet position, Korea can afford using fiscal policy actively to incentivize corporate restructuring and structural reforms and cushion their possible short-term adverse impact. Korea can prevent bubbles in asset prices that were at the origin of Japan’s initial crisis with the continued use of macroprudential policies. Although Korea does not appear to be headed toward deflation, new econometric analysis presented in the paper suggests that aging will exert a downward drag on its inflation going forward.

A comparison of civil religion and remembrance culture in Germany and Japan

AbstractJapan and Germany were allies during World War II, and both countries committed crimes. Even though the Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany was unprecedented in history, Japan has also been found guilty of serious misdemeanours. Today, Germany acknowledges the magnitude of its responsibility and strives to deal with this legacy. However, in Japan, we find no consensus on dealing with the matter. Nonetheless, it would be short-sighted to conclude that Germany did a better job than Japan from the outset. In analysing the different approaches to remembrance culture in the two countries, we use the theoretical framework ofcivil religionto assess the impacts of the respective civil religions on the culture of commemoration. We hereby analyzed the structural factors as well as the influence of individual political behaviour. Immediately after the war, neither Germany nor Japan were interested in coming to terms with their past. Both countries were subject to Western integration, and both countries experienced remarkable economic growth. One of the major differences between both countries concerns civil religion. While Germany no longer relied on strong nationalism-based politics and instead pursued European integration, in Japan. Shintôism has continued to influence feelings of national belonging, making it more difficult to establish a critical dialogue with the past. Further differences are apparent: the Western origin of Japan’s constitution, the conflicting international environment in Japan, the late regime change, differences in education and, most importantly, the impacts of generational change in Germany. The 1968 student generation strongly condemned Nazi aggression and demanded that the older generation face responsibility, which strongly contributed to a reappraisal of the past in the public sphere.