Japanese Research

Relationship Between JapanUS Trade Friction and Structural Reform in Japan

PEI Gui-fen, LI Xiao-xiao

2019, 33(3): 1-11. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.001

Asbtract ( 608 )

PDF (5773KB) ( 250 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The relationship between USJapan trade friction and structural reforms in Japan has been a topic of concern in academic research. Especially after the transition from product friction to institutional friction, there was some synchronization between the two, as evidenced by the correlations between MarketOriented SectorSelective Talks and Japan’s policy to stimulate domestic demand in 1985, between the Structural Impediments Initiative and the structural adjustment in 1989, and between the series of economic dialogue mechanisms that started from 1993 and the structural reform in Japan. The conclusion of this paper is that Japan did not yield to US pressure and accept all reform recommendations of the United States. Instead, Japan took advantage of US pressure to promote domestic structural reforms that are necessary. For those that are not needed or necessary, Japan adopted some roundabout or perfunctory measures to achieve “cessation of hostilities”.

A Study on Japan’s Concept and Attitude Change to the “Belt and Road”Initiative under the Background of Neo-Conservative Ideology

CHEN You-jun

2019, 33(3): 12-19. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.002

Asbtract ( 631 )

PDF (3911KB) ( 218 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

After China proposed the “Belt and Road Initiative” in 2013, the Abe administration of Japan showed extreme resistance and exclusion. Its roots lie in the distortion and misunderstanding of the “Belt and Road” in Japanese society. Influenced by it, the Abe administration adopted a number of preventive policies, such as expanding ODA coverage for countries along the “Belt and Road”, building a “values alliance system”, starting the disputes on maritime affairs, adding capital to ADB in order to counterbalance AIIB, and putting forward the new concept of “Indo-Pacific” strategy. Despite this, the positive results achieved in the development of the “Belt and Road Initiative” have finally led the Abe administration to change its attitude and to shift from “negative conflict” to “active engagement” on specific policies, laying the foundation for future Sino-Japanese cooperation in the context of the“Belt and Road framework.

The Political and Economic Logic of Japans Participation in the Belt and Road Initiative

LI Ying-fu

2019, 33(3): 20-26. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.003

Asbtract ( 590 )

PDF (3800KB) ( 232 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

The Belt and Road Initiative adheres to the basic principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and provides an open framework for different countries and regions to explore more suitable models for their own development. This paper analyzes the political and economic logic of Japans participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. On the one hand, from the perspective of both history and reality, the pragmatic mentality of Japans national character and Japans political vision to get rid of the Western powers and seek stronger political independence and multilateral cooperation supports their participation in the Belt and Road initiative. On the other hand, Japans economy has experienced nearly 20 years of sluggish growth, and is currently plagued by supplyside factors such as population aging. The economic structure of China and Japan well complements each other. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative of multilateral openness, China and Japan have broad prospects for cooperation. If Japan can successfully grasp the opportunity and cooperate with China in infrastructure investment and financing, international labor mobility and so on, there would be opportunity for mutual benefits and a winwin situation between China and Japan.

An Analysis of the “View of the History of Termination of the War”:Japanese Right-Wing’s Historical View

SONG Cheng-you

2019, 33(3): 27-38. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.004

Asbtract ( 680 )

PDF (6169KB) ( 290 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Since the 1980s, the issue of historical conception has increasingly become a critical cause for the tension between Japan and its neighboring countries as well as the decline of national sentiment. The rightwing forces visited the Yasukuni Shrine, made up history textbooks, and published strange comments devoid of humanity. These behaviors stimulated the strong reaction from the neighboring countries that suffered in the past, caused diplomatic protests and/or public demonstrations, and consequently had a negative impact on the establishment of free trade communities in Northeast Asia and the maintenance of peace in the region. In the final analysis, the behaviors of the rightwing forces, such as distorting history and beautify aggression, are closely related to Emperor Hirohito’s “Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War” and the resulting “view of the history of termination of the war”. The publication of the rescript also reflected the result of the game between the United States and Japan before Japanese defeat. In short, the root of the historical conception of Japanese rightwing forces is complicated, and a multiangle analysis is needed to grasp its essence.

Tachibana Shiraki and How He Put forth His Concept of “Establishing the State of Manzhouguo”

ZHANG Ying-bo

2019, 33(3): 39-44. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.005

Asbtract ( 830 )

PDF (3260KB) ( 196 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

achibana Shiraki is a wellknown modern Japanese specialist of China studies. His representative and indepth studies on China were highly praised by LU Xun, and had a great influence upon Japanese understanding and research of China at that time. However, after the Manchurian Incident, his ideas underwent a radical change. He was then the influential political ideologist of the puppet State of Manzhouguo. Not only did he consciously assume the role of defending Japan’s unjustifiable aggression against China, but he also invented the inflammatory slogans of the socalled ‘imperial’ way and ‘racial harmony’. This contributed a lot to Japanese imperialist ambition of military aggression and expansion, and fitted in well with the establishment of the puppet State of Manzhouguo. He had then transformed completely into a political ideologist defending teoretically Japan’s aggression against Manzhouguo.

An Analysis of OldAge Security in Modern Japan

JIANG Xin-xing

2019, 33(3): 45-53. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.006

Asbtract ( 561 )

PDF (4890KB) ( 160 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

During the transformation period of modern Japan, oldage security presented a transitional characteristic which was different from that of early modern and postwar period. Although “ie” is still the main body of elderly care, the economic source of elderly care changed from family business to favor and employment, etc. Moreover, inheritors bore the responsibility of elderly care as a result of the change from moral rule to regime. The main subject of elderly care changed from inheritors to women, especially housewives. In addition, due to the emphasis on the “ie” regime moral rule and the role of Confucian ethics, oldage security lagged behind in the formulation of legal policies, and institutional system had not been formed.

The Financial Difficulties of Nursing Insurance and Countermeasures in Japan

DING Ying-shun

2019, 33(3): 54-63. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.007

Asbtract ( 551 )

PDF (4805KB) ( 177 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

Japanese nursing insurance system was established in 2000. It is of the same nature as the national medical insurance, pension insurance and social insurance system, and has relatively matured after 18 years of development. As population aging in Japan continues to worsen, the number of elderly people in need of care continues to rise, and the expenditure on nursing insurance has been significantly increased, which brings great pressure to the national finance. How to deal with the financial difficulties faced by nursing insurance and maintain the sustainability of the system is an important issue. Japan adjusts the imbalance of the income and expenditure of nursing insurance by increasing the proportion of personal burden, adding preventive services, setting up financial stabilization fund and other ways to alleviate the financial source of nursing insurance.

Comparison of Long-term Care Insurance System in Japan and Germany and Implications for China

YUAN Xin ， LIU Hui-ru

2019, 33(3): 64-72. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.008

Asbtract ( 851 )

PDF (4234KB) ( 283 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

As the typical representatives, Japan and Germany have established long-term care insurance system. Based on the comprehensive comparative analysis, this paper compares eleven aspects of the system in the two countries, such as the scope of insurance, management system, funding and cost and provision of services. Meanwhile, from the dimension of dynamic state, this paper tracks and analyzes the system reform and development process in the two aspects: income and payout, service quantity and quality. Finally, this paper recommends one main principle for the establishment of longterm care in China in the future: from zero to one in construction, from small to large in scope, from low to high in level, from good to better in quality.

Innovation in the CrossRegional Joint Governance in Japan ——Taking the Summit in National Capital Region as an Example

ZHAO Yan, GUO Xiao-peng

2019, 33(3): 73-80. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.03.009

Asbtract ( 643 )

PDF (3867KB) ( 193 )

References | Related Articles | Metrics

As one of the world's leading metropolitan areas, the development of the Tokyo metropolitan area represents the modernization of Japan, and it also reflects the predicament of urban governance in the era of metropolitan areas. Crossregional collaboration such as the Summit in National Capital Region was a new model of governance in metropolitan era. Without changing administrative system, the summit formed the crossregional collaborative system, which coordinated relations between city governments, and provided the platform for public and enterprise participation. This paper analyzes the gains and losses in the process of crossregional governance in Japan so that it can have some implications for the governance of metropolitan areas in China.

Table of Content