Daijobuyo comments

"Japan [has always] admire those stronger than it". If anyone has read the article "Datsu a ron" (leaving Asia theory) by Yukichi Fukuzawa, you wouldn't disagree with the above statement. When China was powerful, Japan was heavily influenced by its culture and considered it as a model to emulate. When Europe became the leader, Japan not only massively borrowed from the Europeans, it sought to eliminate all the elements of Chinese influence, since China was now a weak country. To me this is quite shameful. It's not a bad thing, and maybe even a wise thing, to admire the powerful countries. But to completely reject and look down on the culture from which you've borrowed so much from in the past just because it is now decadent? Many even advocate for Japan to be included as an European country...(yeah as if Europe would have let you in in the first place...) Moreover, Japan always goes to the extremely when emulating other cultures. Adopting western political institutions, technologies and science makes sense, but replacing all of its traditional costumes and outfits with western ones doesn't. It almost seems to suggest that Japan doesn't even respect its own culture, but simply desires to be the same as the leading powers. But of course I'm aware that this is not the case today, when Japan is doing a great job protecting and promoting its culture. Who knows though, if say, India becomes the most powerful country in the 21st century, would Japan throw away every aspect of Western influence and start borrowing from India? I certainly hope not, but judging from the historical precedence, it is by all means possible. I like Japan and especially love its people, however this is something that I'm always a little concern about.