Wow, I like Hatoyama's linked op-ed, really an open attack on "globalism", "the idea ... all countries should modify the traditions and regulations governing their economies in line with global (or rather American) standards"; and US supremacy in general (I already hear the "anti-American!!!" counter-attacks), with rather explicit words on the change of the East Asian political balance.

While he writes about Japan, he cleverly embeds it in a (European) Enlightement narrative. He nails it in right in the third paragraph:

In these times, we must return to the idea of fraternity -- as in the French slogan "liberté, égalité, fraternité" -- as a force for moderating the danger inherent within freedom.

As to be expected (well at least I expected it), there is a hint at improving regional relations; though with the obligatory reinforcement of the special imperial relation:

Another national goal that emerges from the concept of fraternity is the creation of an East Asian community. Of course, the Japan-U.S. security pact will continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese diplomatic policy.

But at the same time, we must not forget our identity as a nation located in Asia. I believe that the East Asian region, which is showing increasing vitality, must be recognized as Japan's basic sphere of being. So we must continue to build frameworks for stable economic cooperation and security across the region.

The following part of the attack may be relevant for the Euro:

The financial crisis has suggested to many that the era of U.S. unilateralism may come to an end. It has also raised doubts about the permanence of the dollar as the key global currency.

The EU is clearly on his mind but suitable as role model only partially:

Today, as the supranational political and economic philosophies of Marxism and globalism have, for better or for worse, stagnated, nationalism is once again starting to have a major influence in various countries.

As we seek to build new structures for international cooperation, we must overcome excessive nationalism and go down a path toward rule-based economic cooperation and security.

Unlike Europe, the countries of this region differ in size, development stage and political system, so economic integration cannot be achieved over the short term. However, we should nonetheless aspire to move toward regional currency integration as a natural extension of the rapid economic growth...

Therefore, I would suggest, somewhat paradoxically, that the issues that stand in the way of regional integration can only be truly resolved by moving toward greater integration. The experience of the E.U. shows us how regional integration can defuse territorial disputes.

...and he ends with Europe again:

Let me conclude by quoting the words of Count Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder of the first popular movement for a united Europe, written 85 years ago in "Pan-Europa" (my grandfather, Ichiro Hatoyama, translated his book, "The Totalitarian State Against Man," into Japanese): "All great historical ideas started as a utopian dream and ended with reality. Whether a particular idea remains as a utopian dream or becomes a reality depends on the number of people who believe in the ideal and their ability to act upon it."

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

Thasnks for the comment. I intentionally left out many issues which are very confusing. DPJ's election manifesto is a collection of goodies ranging from a child care support (300 dollars per month), direct income support to farmers, free highways to affordable housing. In essence, their promise is to create a welfare state of the Swedish type, without higher taxes.

As for foreign policy, I honestly do not know where they are.  Probably they will scale back involvement in the continuing war on terror. With Hatoyama's pledge not to visit the imperialist shrine, there will not be major problems with China (which is about to take our position of No.2 economic power) or with ROK.  Hopefully, it could give DPJ enough room to maneuver vis a vis Kim Jong Il.

If they win as expected, the next premier will be Hatoyama. He is from a well known family of academic and political achievements. A key figure in the post-election politics will be Ichiro Ozawa of DPJ. He resigned from the post of DPJ chief this year over criminal investigation of his political finance, but is highly respected by the party members.

I will become a patissier, God willing.

tuasfait: and may become increasingly ultra-nationalistic.

All the more reason to pray for the success of the DPJ's policies.

The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence.

Based on Wikipedia, it does seem so. (Hungary has a somewhat similar system.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

Indeed!  In the 80s it looked like Japan WAS the island that would own the world, or at least large parts of the USA.  I suspect it is hardly an accident that "globalization" and "The New World Order", originating from the US and orchestrated by Wall Street, worked to the advantage of the US financial corporations and to the disadvantage of Japan.  Would it not be logical that once the USA's chief military and ideological rival, the USSR, dissolved and began to adopt capitalist modes that somehow things would turn to the disadvantage of the world's high riding 2nd largest economy?  That was the time when the total valuation of Tokyo real estate exceeded the value of all of the real estate in California.

Our Wall Street elites and their D.C. political agents certainly are not going to have more concern for the welfare of Japan than they have for the welfare of the USA.  For fifteen years General Electric and others rolled in profits from "the Japan Carry Trade."  Those were the years during which Japan had a Zero Rate Interest Policy.  Borrowing money was free and provision of very low interest rate money was one of the services Japan provided to the US financial sector.  Unfortunately, Japan was undergoing the unwind of their own massive real estate bubble, so the average Japanese citizen did not benefit. The Bank of Japan pioneered this policy of "all money to the banks" that the USA has now adopted.  Both are capitalist societies, so the institutions of capital are "protected" at all costs, costs which are borne by all but the banks.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

If it is not currently the case, the BoJ should consider retaining you as a spokesman!  ;-)

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

Looks like a wipeout.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

Perhaps, after 60+ years of relative political stasis, Japan has an opportunity to remake itself in a form more suited to new realities.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

Thanks.. because from here, one never really knows..

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude