Finally, Japan is becoming itself again.
Puh-LEEZE.
Japan never changed.
Why do you think some of us here dislike the idea others have of arming China as an 'equal partner' in the region? One more racist, armed state we don't need in a region already full of `em.
<< Finally, Japan is becoming itself again. >>
Just how thin IS the Xerox copy of Judeo-Christian/American/Western/Human Civilization pulled over themselves like a dust cover by such states as Japan and South East Asia's "tigers?"
And, least we forget, for a time, by Germany and Britain and much of the rest of Old Europe.
And Canada.
Although never in the collection of other peoples lands and states and nations and sovereign territories brutally colonized, occupied and enslaved by the wannabe-warlord Peking pack of predatory gangster bastards that so grandiosely calls itself, "china."
And yet, of them all, only Japan and, one prays, Taiwan, have the strength of character to survive in any recognizable form of their present selves. And likely, especially Japan, as our loyal friends and allies.
But the younger generation, much to the dismay of the older/wayyy racist but always "respectful" generation, doesn't seem to look at things in that way.
But I think China is this century's sleeping dragon. I believe Japan will probably be in the direct path of that dragon when it wakes up.
Picken on Korea, that I don't get. DNA studies show that most of the Japanese are Korean, save the Ainu and it's not like the Koreans are any threat. They can't even save their people in the major hell hole up north.
Every region of the world has its 'pecking order'. If you're a thumb-sucking liberal you can ignore this reality, but its just human nature and you can't change it. Its not necessarily based on race (not going there) but it is definitely based on culture. To the extent that certain cultures become associated with certain "races" or "ethnicities" you have stereotypes arising. (Clue to brain dead liberals - stereotypes generally exist because there is more than a kernel of truth at their core. I think its just a way for the less intelligent masses to explain or acknowledge cultural differences. The success of America shows that members of all "races" can achieve success if melded into the superior civilized culture. Hence race does not connote superiority/inferiority by itself. Put another way, its not race, but the culture, stupid).
Japan became Asia's 'top dog' after westernizing. China was top dog a thousand years ago, and is slowly making its move back towards that status.
The Japanese are caught in a bind - they really should become a well-armed military/nuclear power to maintain their status, but that seems unlikely in the short term.
As far as the Japanese comics and their Caucasian-like features (present as well in the anime cartoon genre), well, Hitler made them "honorary Aryans, didn't he? Must have had a reason, right?
He did. But again, it WASN'T race. It was CULTURE.
Q: Why was it natural for the Germans and the Japanese to become allies in WWII?
A: Because both nations have a language that is not spoken, but BARKED!!
(*LOL*) That's an original joke, BTW. You may feel free to use it.
As far as Japan's manly culture goes, my sentiment is simply put thus: "BANZAI!!"