Japan Needs a Vision

by Paul Cipywnyk

This column ran in the April 21, 1991, Asahi Evening News.

Where is Japan? Where is its leadership? The world is facing upheavals on a scale never matched before. Political and economic earthquakes shake the globe. Technology is changing society to an extent never dreamed of. Gaia herself is riddled with cancer and may be dying.

Where is Japan? Japan, one of the world's most powerful teams, sits on the sidelines, benched without a game plan.

Japan is the economic marvel of the world, but it is sadly lacking in vision. Its gross national product is the envy of other nations, who rush to study the Japanese miracle. Japan has the blessings of being incredibly rich and powerful at a time when the whole world is in flux. But where is Japan's voice? Does Japan have a voice?

Japan wants respect, and is increasingly belligerent about getting it. Japan deserved respect, but respect cannot be bought. Japan is like the new rich kid on the block, trying to buy friendship with handouts and wondering why it's never truly accepted into the gang.

Shut out of the club, Japan is getting frustrated and angry, muttering about racial prejudice and Caucasian plots. The rich kid is even threatening to say NO, and take the toys away. Perhaps it is time for Japan to say NO, but after Japan has said NO, then what?

Leadership necessitates having a vision, a dream that draws others to follow. A vision that inspires hope for a better life for all. A vision that is clear and easily communicated. A vision that has powerful symbols for people to believe in and trust.

The United States, for all its faults, is the acknowledged leader of the world community. It's an economic mess, its streets are seething with violent crime, its citizens abuse drugs on a horrendous scale, its educational system is a disaster, and yet it is grudgingly admired. For what? For its vision.

People still believe in the United States and its dreams. Dreams of freedom, democracy, equal opportunity and human rights. The vision is tarnished, the dreams are harder to grasp, but the United States still gives people hope for positive change.

What kind of vision does Japan present to the world? What do Japanese and their politicians believe in? Well-built cars and innovative electronic products capture markets but they do not capture hearts and minds. To attain the leadership and trust and acceptance that it so desperately wants, Japan must have inspiring humanistic goals. All great leaders have vision. "I have a dream," said Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most charismatic leaders of the 20th century. What is Japan's dream? What does Japan stand for?

Leaders have self-respect, they are confident, they know what they want and how to go about getting it. Japan sorely lacks such confidence and direction. Leader are active, they are initiators. But on so many issues, from the Persian Gulf war to trade to environmentalism, Japan is reactive. How can a country that relies on gaiatsu, or external pressure, to make advances even for its internal political and social problems be a leader?

Japan has won the economic championship, but it needs to move to a new arena. Japan needs a visionary game plan that will lift the people of the world off their feet and get them cheering. Japan needs a strong, respected quarterback supported by a creative, coordinated offense. Japan has relied on defense, gradually giving ground and then playing catch-up. It's time to take the ball and run with it, but first Japan has to know where it's running to.

Since I wrote this, the situation has obviously changed, as Japan has been in a recession for the past few years, with no improvement in sight. The U.S. is now the world's economic engine, and has made progress on education and crime. However, Japan *still* needs a vision, perhaps more than ever...