TBF to the Land of Convicts and Prison Guards, they have to put all their energy into suppressing their rogue province, New Zealand. Because if they fail, humanity will be crushed under the claws of Kiwi-toting Emus.
Great and timely post! Japan is the natural bulwark against ChiCom expansion - we should continue to develop closer ties based on mutual security interests. In my training with the JSDF, I found them to be a very professional and capable force. Very interesting background on the new PM. Thanks for sending this!
Impressive - this photo has been going around a group of buds with whom I indulge in the arcane art of model building. While we are undoubtedly a quirky bunch, the one thing we share is a strong appreciation for military history and its salient lessons. Think I've got same Hiryu kit back at in the stash at Casa De Scoobs, one of my (many) souvenirs from my FDNF tour ;-)
He might just be the right man in the right place at the right time...
You know you've reached a certain point in model building when you spend as much time researching colors and markings as you do selecting a kit. As for the display problem, I advocate: "Wouldn't it be nice to have another couple shelves in this room?"
I painted the F-15 according to the listed colors and finished and was like “nope”. Frustrated as heck until I hunted around on the floor and found the negative mask parts I’d cut out the day prior. A little silly putty and we are cooking with gas again.
CDR, I couldn't agree with you more about 80 years being enough. Having served in Asia, the Middle East and Europe I would say, however, that many of the people who live in those regions see 80 years as a drop in the bucket of time. The idea of Japan as a military power is not going to go over well in many parts of Asia because the atrocities committed by Japan have not been forgotten and the ally of my ally is not necessarily my ally.
Thank you for that thought. The history angle will be tough to overcome. However, it feels like Germany has been successful in doing so, so why not Japan? I see the need for Japan to make economic and social/cultural inroads with other countries of the region, which is hard to do without appearing to be dominant in the relationship. We need all the strong friends we can get - friends, not lapdogs.
To the question of "it feels like Germany has been successful in doing so, so why not Japan?", a couple of obvious differences:
1) Germany does not have _anything_ like the history of post-war fudging re responsibility that Japan does. Germany has, if you will pardon the expression, significantly "manned up" re the Holocaust in particular. Compare Yasukuni Shrine, for example.
2) Germany has made a point of playing very well with others, mostly underplaying their economic strength, in multilateral institutions - both the EU and its predecessors like the EEC and also NATO.
3) Specifically in the case of (South) Korea, there is still quite a lot of dislike for Japan's colonial past vis a vis Korea. Again the fact that Japan both government and society have been rather reticent to own much responsibility there does not help. I think this last will be a declining problem as Korea becomes more self confident - the high level of both technical/industrial and cultural export success (K-pop anyone? Not *my* thing but obviously it is a lot of peoples' thing) will make Korea-Japan relationship psychologically easier.
He reads like a traditional conservative: loves his country, isn't crazy about having to overly-accommodate defense partners in Japan, wants to maintain a robust national defense, continues to recognize the threat, wants to maintain it's alliances with its current allies.
Can't say Japan hasn't made the investments unlike a number of our European allies.
Hey, we should like this guy and his goals. But, surprisingly the cold, jaundiced eye of our unusually prescient host isn't contrasting Mr. Ishiba's ambitious goals with the reality that they're also missing their recruiting goals by as much as 50%.
Sounds like a member of The Porch!
TBF to the Land of Convicts and Prison Guards, they have to put all their energy into suppressing their rogue province, New Zealand. Because if they fail, humanity will be crushed under the claws of Kiwi-toting Emus.
KEEP YOUR PIMP HAND STRONG, AUSTRALIA!
Great and timely post! Japan is the natural bulwark against ChiCom expansion - we should continue to develop closer ties based on mutual security interests. In my training with the JSDF, I found them to be a very professional and capable force. Very interesting background on the new PM. Thanks for sending this!
Impressive - this photo has been going around a group of buds with whom I indulge in the arcane art of model building. While we are undoubtedly a quirky bunch, the one thing we share is a strong appreciation for military history and its salient lessons. Think I've got same Hiryu kit back at in the stash at Casa De Scoobs, one of my (many) souvenirs from my FDNF tour ;-)
He might just be the right man in the right place at the right time...
I loved the photo. I am genuinely excited to see Japan take her mantle for the Pacific.
I build as well and the struggle of display is real. “I have this ship model. Where shall I display it, lovely wife?”
I’ve hidden tanks in winter camo among Christmas scenes.
“Model PM”. Duh. I missed the link.
Me too! No hair on my knuckles :)
You know you've reached a certain point in model building when you spend as much time researching colors and markings as you do selecting a kit. As for the display problem, I advocate: "Wouldn't it be nice to have another couple shelves in this room?"
I painted the F-15 according to the listed colors and finished and was like “nope”. Frustrated as heck until I hunted around on the floor and found the negative mask parts I’d cut out the day prior. A little silly putty and we are cooking with gas again.
For Christmas, my wife gave me four sets of wall mounted bookshelves. "Go ahaead. Put them where ever you like. <3
CDR, I couldn't agree with you more about 80 years being enough. Having served in Asia, the Middle East and Europe I would say, however, that many of the people who live in those regions see 80 years as a drop in the bucket of time. The idea of Japan as a military power is not going to go over well in many parts of Asia because the atrocities committed by Japan have not been forgotten and the ally of my ally is not necessarily my ally.
Thank you for that thought. The history angle will be tough to overcome. However, it feels like Germany has been successful in doing so, so why not Japan? I see the need for Japan to make economic and social/cultural inroads with other countries of the region, which is hard to do without appearing to be dominant in the relationship. We need all the strong friends we can get - friends, not lapdogs.
I agree with CDR Axolotl :) and Pete.
To the question of "it feels like Germany has been successful in doing so, so why not Japan?", a couple of obvious differences:
1) Germany does not have _anything_ like the history of post-war fudging re responsibility that Japan does. Germany has, if you will pardon the expression, significantly "manned up" re the Holocaust in particular. Compare Yasukuni Shrine, for example.
2) Germany has made a point of playing very well with others, mostly underplaying their economic strength, in multilateral institutions - both the EU and its predecessors like the EEC and also NATO.
3) Specifically in the case of (South) Korea, there is still quite a lot of dislike for Japan's colonial past vis a vis Korea. Again the fact that Japan both government and society have been rather reticent to own much responsibility there does not help. I think this last will be a declining problem as Korea becomes more self confident - the high level of both technical/industrial and cultural export success (K-pop anyone? Not *my* thing but obviously it is a lot of peoples' thing) will make Korea-Japan relationship psychologically easier.
He reads like a traditional conservative: loves his country, isn't crazy about having to overly-accommodate defense partners in Japan, wants to maintain a robust national defense, continues to recognize the threat, wants to maintain it's alliances with its current allies.
Can't say Japan hasn't made the investments unlike a number of our European allies.
The Land of the Rising Sun is a crucial ally in our defense of the free world.
Hey, we should like this guy and his goals. But, surprisingly the cold, jaundiced eye of our unusually prescient host isn't contrasting Mr. Ishiba's ambitious goals with the reality that they're also missing their recruiting goals by as much as 50%.
Color me skeptical.