In Chapter 12 of the textbook, it poses the question of whether contemporary Japan can overcome a wide varieties of challenges: economic, military, social, etc. It is evident in the past month that the new Biden administration sees Japan as an important ally, along with the rest of the Quad, to counter the rise in China’s power in Asia and in the world. And yet, what is the future for Japan? As the book poses, “Once again, Japan faces the challenges of overcoming a cataclysmic setback. Whether the future holds another miraculous comeback or continued decline remains to be seen.” (page 376) The very last section of the book leaves the reader with some interesting thoughts on how Japan has interacted with other nations, how it has created unique hybrids, how it has been able to innovate. Yet it also discusses the challenges facing Japan, and raises the issue of hard power (military and economic) vs. soft power (cultural and artistic.)
Based on your study of Japanese history and culture address the following two questions: Where is Japan today? Where is Japan likely to go in the next few decades of the 21st Century?
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