The fact that we have held on so lovingly to the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education, which were created when we were under the occupation of Allied forces and before we became independent, only proves that we are still under the mind control of the occupation forces.

-- Abe Shinzo

Oh, HELL no.

It’s exactly like Bush all over again, only the East rather than the West is getting the shaft this time. Say hello to more visits to Yasukuni Shrine, more revisionist Japanese textbooks cranking out more clueless nationalists or apathetic model citizens, and more talk of Japan amending their constitution to negate Article 9 and again formalize their military. Say goodbye to any hope for progress in Japan/everyone-else-in-proximity-to-Japan relations. I hope I am wrong, but what does history tell us about a consummate politician with no tangible vision elected on a platform of fear and nationalistic fervor?

And why would Japan need to militarize again? Oh yes, because the rest of Asia is still pissed off that Japan's "effort to save them from the West" -- or, if you're not a Japanese tool, Japan's systematic butchering into submission of East Asia -- has not been acknowledged properly nor apologized for. Oh, and lest we forget, Japan also needs to protect itself from everyone who isn't Japanese. Why, remember the wise words of Abe's nationalist crony Ishihara Shintaro, the governor of Tokyo, when he asserted that Nanking never happened and was fabricated by the lowly Chinese, who, don't you know, have criminality etched into their DNA, which complements nicely his belief that foreigners are the majority of who commits crimes in Japan? My personal favorite nationalistic bile is Ishihara's theory that women who can no longer bear children are worthless to Japanese society.

Just like countries and politics almost everywhere in these ironically insular times, Japan is a silly boys club wanting to wave their dicks about, placating the masses with rhetoric and fear, while the country spirals down the shithole. Meh.

But...

You know me, always wanting to leave on a high note. This cheers me up, or rather, combats the distressing vision of the future that I have when confronted with the above. Hope springs eternal.