Topics like "Japan should do this as a member of Asia" or "Japan should do that as a representative of Asia" often come up in political discussions. In such cases, this "Asia" usually includes China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, Indochina and the nations that make up ASEAN. Sometimes it can also encompass India and Pakistan.
Depending on the context of the issue, the term "Asia" can address just China or mainly ASEAN nations.
In short, Asia is an area close to Japan and for this reason, it could be worthwhile making a proposal to see Japan as a part of Asia.
But does the term "Asia" also represent something more than just a region on the globe?
About a half century ago, an ecologist raised a unprecedented topic questioning the conventional East versus West comparison. He made a claim that there is a larger difference between Eurasian central countries such as Russia and China, and Eurasian peripheral countries such as Japan and Europe.
The former group historically had long-term autocratic rulers while the latter experienced decentralization of feudal governance succeeded by capitalistic economic development in the modern period.
The theory was proved to be valid during the economic development and democratization of Eurasian peripheral nations such as South Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN countries.
It has recently been succeeded by the oceanographic history theory of Heita Kawakatsu, who argues that Japan and Europe developed by being economically independent from the Eurasian center, that's to say Asia.
In reality, it is difficult to find things in common within Asian regions when the area includes China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and ASEAN nations.
The concept of "Asia" was believed to be a substantial entity only because the region had the common fate of being either ruled or threatened by European colonialism.
The pre-World War II "Asian doctrine" sprang from this fate. It was also believed that what Asian nations -- Japan included -- had in common was that their efforts to modernize slowed down after the war.
However, in recent years, such ideas have proved to no longer be valid. On the stage of international politics, ASEAN nations fear the threat of Chinese martial advancement while the "independence" problem stands high between China and Taiwan.
Even within China there is an increasing tension between the economically advanced coastal area and communist rulers in Beijing.
In this kind of situation, what does it really mean to say "Japan is a part of Asia?" It can only bring confusion when talking about Japan's role in the international arena or Japan's relationship with China.
For example, there was talk of inviting China to the G8 summit in Okinawa when the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi was still in office.
The attempt to invite China put more importance on the "Asia as a whole" concept over the original purpose of the summit -- being an organization of nations that have already achieved democratization and advanced industrial development.
Whether to invite China should have been debated for its political importance, not out of a sentimental obligation of having to bring China on to the stage of international politics because it is an Asian country like Japan.
Actually, China gave a curt refusal to the invitation, saying it has no intention of participating in the summit, and that Japan should not consider itself a representative of Asia.
We should not welcome unnecessary misunderstanding from Western nations or look away from the problems between Japan and China by being too bothered by the "Asia as one" concept, which is not even an actual entity.
Being geographically close can create military tensions, and cohabitation is thus important. However, it does not necessary emphasize the importance of Asia being one.
The concept of Asia can also raise a structural problem for Japan as a nation.
A recent report in the media said scholars from Ryukyu University in Okinawa Prefecture made an epoch-making proposal to pursue a new identity for Okinawa.
One of them included establishing a memorial with messages that read "here Japan ends and Asia begins" and "here Asia ends and Japan begins."
It is understandable that Okinawans are actively trying to seek their identity, considering the fact Okinawa Prefecture has a history different from mainland Japan.
But what do they mean by "Asia" in this case? Is it oceanographic Asia spreading from the South China Sea, or East Asia including China? Either case could be possible considering Okinawa's history. The issue can raise the standpoint Japan should take as Okinawa is a part of Japan.
In any case, we should not be fooled by the term "Asia" when holding a discussion on the issue. We also must be cautious to clarify where the term points to precisely.
Takao Sakamoto is a professor at Gakushuin University. This article is reprinted courtesy of the Sankei Shimbun (
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