Hi again Michi

Thanks for those references and your Comments on them.

What particulary struck me was Brahma Chellaney’s Jan 12, 2015 essay "East Asia's Historical Shackles" at http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/east-asia-historical-territorial-disputes-by-brahma-chellaney-2015-01, where he comments:

“All countries’ legitimizing narratives blend historical fact and myth. But, in some cases, historical legacies can gain excessive influence, overwhelming leaders’ capacity to make rational policy choices.

That explains why [South Korea's] Park has sought closer ties with China, even though South Korea’s natural regional partner is democratic Japan.

One source of hope stems from Abe’s landslide victory in the recent snap general election, which gives him the political capital to reach out to Park with a grand bargain: If Japan expresses remorse more clearly for its militaristic past, South Korea will agree to leave historical grievances out of official policy."

South Korea would be a very useful and natural military and political ally for Japan. Both are in China's would-be sphere of influence and are threatened by North Korea's nuclear sabre-rattling.

On the submarine front South Korea is developing a new indigenously designed submarine of 3,000 tons. As Japan has done that very same thing with the Soryu there is obviously logic in Japan and South Korea cooperating in submarine knowledge and construction.

Regards

Pete

As Japan develops its hard power doctrine (reformed military policy and alliances) Japan would do well to alter its soft power image to make it more compatible with its Western allies.

In that regard Ms Ayako Sono's recent writings advocating racial segregation for immigrants in Japan have not helped things http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21644496-japan-considers-welcoming-more-foreign-workers-its-shores-bestselling-author-calls-their .

Pete

Plantagenet,
Thank you. I knew that Ms. Sono said something that suggested different living quarters for racially or culturally different people. I read it now. You can read the Sankei Newspaper's article in English at the following Internet address.

http://durf.tumblr.com/post/110772241382/yesterday-sono-ayako-contributed-an-opinion-piece.

Thanks for that article Michi.

Ms Sono's advocacy of apartheid, like old South Africa, certainly reads badly.

I've changed my mind a bit on whether Japan needs to change its social order to sell weapons to countries. Given Japan has sold millions of cars to the Western countries and built factories and buildings there selling weapons need not involve any big social change.

Regards

Pete