Sekihei identifies three major “national crises” in Japanese history: the Battle of Baekgang, the arrival of the Black Ships, and Japan’s defeat in 1945.
In each case, Japan reformed its national structure to confront external threats.
What then is the new crisis facing Japan today?

Thus Japan entered the postwar era. What, then, is the crisis Japan faces today?
2018-01-28
The following continues from the previous chapter.
Japan’s National Crises
In Japan’s history, I believe we have experienced three situations that can truly be called “national crises.”
The first was the Battle of Baekgang (663: fought at Baekgang on the Korean Peninsula between the allied forces of Wa and Baekje remnants, and the allied forces of Tang China and Silla).
After its defeat on the Korean Peninsula, Japan feared that the Tang Empire might invade Japan.
At that time, the Yamato court moved the capital to the area around Lake Biwa (Ōmi-kyō).
Furthermore, it constructed Mizuki fortifications centered on Tsushima and northern Kyushu, built Korean-style ancient mountain fortresses across western Japan along the Seto Inland Sea, and stationed frontier guards along the northern Kyushu coast to establish a national defense system.
It also introduced the Chinese ritsuryō legal system and solidified a centralized state structure.
The second national crisis was the arrival of the Black Ships (1853).
Feeling the threat from overseas powers directly, Japan’s samurai rose up and achieved the Meiji Restoration in order to confront the Western powers.
Through the centralized Meiji state, Japan sought to stand against the Western powers.
The third was the defeat of 1945.
Defeated by the United States, Japan was occupied by foreign forces for the first time in its history.
Thus Japan entered the postwar era.
What, then, is the crisis Japan faces today?