Death of Pacifism in Japan

There have been various articles and the like talking of the resurgence of militarism in Japan. It continues and the latest proclaims that not only is pacifism on the decline, it is dying.

Forged in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan's defeat in World War II 60 years ago this August, the pacifist movement has long pushed for a nonaligned, internationalist Japan that would stand forever for world peace.

But over the past decade, the country's pacifists have faced painful reversals; friendly left-leaning parties have shrunk with the end of the Cold War, and Tokyo has become more assertive and militarily active in world affairs.

Despite protests to the contrary, what I and others have been saying seems to coming to pass. Japan is dispensing with its pacifistic ways and force will be the watch word of the future.

Interestingly, the last bastion of pacifism is Okinawa. If this article is correct, that will be the place and people to watch. When pacifism dies in Okinawa, it will be dead in Japan.