Remember Japan?

In the 1950’s, we laughed at “Made in Japan” labels for kitsch and poor quality. In the 1970’s, we stopped laughing and panicked to catch up to Japanese quality and management focus. In the 1990’s we hoped we had gotten our money out of the Japanese stock market in time. In the 2000’s, we’ve largely just ignored Japan.

Japan’s GNP, almost half in size and second to the U.S. in the world, over double Germany’s and over triple Britain, France or China’s, seems to merit some attention. Its stable democracy of 125-million industrious people, strategically situated on the rim of Asia, a firm U.S. ally increasing its armed contributions to ours, seems to merit some attention. Yet, Japan rarely gets much space in our media these days. Its crucial elections only received a few inside news columns, and columnists have been focused on Katrina, SCOTUS and such.

Seasoned Asia reporter Sol Sanders never forgets. Or, I should say, Sanders has forgotten more than most ever knew. He’s been a correspondent for Business Week, US News & World Report and UPI. Those knowledgeable who experienced the Vietnam War know him as one the finest correspondents there, and his contacts and experience continue to be invaluable.

In Sol Sanders’ latest column, “The Koizumi revolution: Japan embraces change, for a change,” he goes behind the vote count of Prime Minister Koizumi’s landslide election gamble.

Sanders cautions, “It’s still early on for a deep analysis,” but then gets to the core meaning of the election. “After a decade of economic stagnation…Japanese are welcoming change.” The importance of this sea change in this very powerful, key country cannot be stressed enough for its potential impact on the next decade.

Sanders proceeds in his usual methodical manner to summarize the open questions about Japan’s future internal and external course. Read it, and keep reading Sol Sanders’ regular column at World Tribune.com for still one of the finest reporter’s commentary on developments in Asia.