Japanese battle their own policy in China efforts

Another drawback to Japan's wooing of China: Unlike Germany, Tokyo has only reluctantly faced up to its dark past of brutality and colonialism before and during World War II.

Last year, Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, where Japanese politicians and military officers convicted of war crimes are enshrined, despite protests from pacifists. That fed anger here, where many Chinese, especially the elderly, complain that Japan has not fully apologized for wartime atrocities against China.

"Try comparing Japanese and Chinese political leadership. The level of Japan's politicians isn't very high," said Masahiro Maeda, chief marketing officer for Hitachi's China business. "We can only rely on ourselves."