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We keep thinking of Japan's relations with Asian nations as if Japan is not part of Asia. It is, and should be more actively involved in regional affairs. Too many Japanese still feel more comfortable in Western countries than in Asia. I know that is changing but we need better relations with our neighbors, not just with countries 10,000 km away.
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I cannot help wondering who are "we" here - I mean, in your statement?
Your're in the US and according to your profile you've even never been to Japan...???
:?:?:?
I know that is changing but we need better relations with our neighbors, not just with countries 10,000 km away.
We keep thinking of Japan's relations with Asian nations as if Japan is not part of Asia. It is, and should be more actively involved in regional affairs. Too many Japanese still feel more comfortable in Western countries than in Asia. I know that is changing but we need better relations with our neighbors, not just with countries 10,000 km away.
JAPAN is not a part of Asia, and JAPAN is not a part of the West, either.
JAPAN is JAPAN, and a part of the world.
From Tokyo, only 10 hours to go to London by air.
From Tokyo, about 6 hours to go to Bangkok by air, which is the same flight hour between New York and Los Angeles.
Distance/Location is useless for consideration.
Japan is definitely part of Asia. If you take airplanes, the distances might look the same, but when it comes to shipping large quantities of materials and manufactured products, the geographical factor cannot be taken out. Importing large amounts of raw materials and exporting manufactured products are essential to the survival of the country. Oil cannot be shipped to Japan without securing the sea lanes from the Middle East.
Besides, the Chinese market became essential to the economy of Japan. China is part of Asia.
What about culture? Say, soy source, chopsticks, Chinese characters, Buddhism and Confucianism, Sumo, Zodiac animal symbols, Tango no sekku, tofu, soybean paste, and so on.:?
How about Australia/NZ?
They are English-speaking, eating beef & pork, using knife & fork, mostly Christianity, etc. But they are not Europe, and not Asia, either. Culture is not important, either.
Big question. Are there any source?Most of Japanese feel comfortable with so-called Asian values.
Yes. But majority of Japanese still feel despair of its neighouring countries, and thus try to keep distance.The argument that Japan is not part of Asia was used during the Meiji Period, when Japanese leaders felt despair having observed the conservativeness and unwillingness of surrounding Asian countries, more specifically China and Korea, to modify their societies to defend the threat of colonization from the West.
English is OK. We are using English as Esperanto for external world, letting outsiders be uneasy to understand inside of each country.At least, all Asians suck at speaking English.
"EU" was a result of more political things. However, The countries in the region of Asia-Pacific is already integrated as economic zone. Plotical top-down is not necessary in the region, I believe. It is because the region is more mozaic than Europe in terms of religion, language, tradition, culture, level of wealth, politics ....Isn't it more beneficial if Asian countries can form the Asian equivalent of the EU in the future?
Maybe so.it's very similar with the Arabic culture
Chinese languages (Cantonese, Mandarin + some others) combined have become the 2nd most spoken language(s) in Australia after English, beating Italian and Greek. It's especially obvious in the big cities. The trend is, Mandarin alone to become the 2nd most spoken language.
I remember that the new PM of Australia can speak Chinese fluently.
By the way, Hezam, the Arabic speaking community is quite large too. I am learning (slowly) some Arabic too but my main focus is Chinese and Japanese.
ﾃ氾淌妥 ﾃ古津ｭﾃ｡ﾃ?/QUOTE]
that's right,Arabic and japanese ( including chinese ) are the hardest languages ever.
it's good of you to be able to talk in Arabic Anatoli