A LESSON
The cover story of Time magazine (10 February 1992) was:
“America in the mind of Japan,
Japan in the mind of America.”
The report’s conclusion, in the magazine’s own words, was that the apparent friction between America and Japan hides a deeper truth: both nations need each other.
“Friction between the U.S. and Japan masks a deeper truth: the two nations need each other.” (p. 8)
The magazine observed that the U.S. economy, while still strong, feels like it’s weakening. The fall of the Soviet Union has cleared the way, but a new threat is emerging: Japan. Americans are increasingly viewing Japan as an economic rival, fueled by the $41 billion trade deficit:
“America, still the most powerful economy, nonetheless feels itself to be somehow the diminished thing. The old enemy, the Soviet Union, has vanished. With the U.S running a $41 billion trade deficit with Japan, the once deferential partner begins to look to some Americans like the new enemy.” (p. 9)
When the Second World War ended, America was the victor and Japan the vanquished. Yet today, that order has been reversed—and the reason lies entirely in the moral realm. America had gained supremacy over Japan through the power of its weapons, but in the end, the strength of character prevailed. Japan, equipped with superior moral discipline, ultimately rose above America.
According to a magazine report, most Japanese—and many Americans as well—place the blame for America’s economic problems on America itself. Masao Kunihiro, a Japanese anthropologist, asked: “Whatever happened to the good old Emersonian credo that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door?” He noted that this very belief had once made America economically and industrially powerful. “But many of us,” he said, “rightly or wrongly, now feel that the U.S. is no longer producing mousetraps better than ours.” (p. 14)
Another Japanese commentator, Yoshio Sakurauchi, reflected the prevailing Japanese view of America’s shortcomings: “The root of America’s trade problem lies in the inferior quality of American labor.” (p. 14)
During the Second World War, America had subjected Japan to great cruelty. Had Japan chosen to respond with words—turning its voice and pen toward propaganda against America’s oppression and conspiracy—it would have gained nothing. In fact, it would have lost whatever remained after the war in the noise of fruitless protest. Instead, Japan chose patience. Rather than raising an outcry, it made constructive effort its mission. The result was extraordinary. In just forty years, history was transformed: the one once behind moved ahead, and the one occupying the front seat was compelled to move back.
