Originally published on October 17, 2019.
Continuing from the previous chapter, this article draws on a dialogue between Miyawaki Junko and Takayama Masayuki to discuss overwhelming Japanese public support for removing South Korea from the white list, the comfort women agreement, the so-called wartime labor issue, Takeshima, the radar-lock incident, changes in Asahi Shimbun and television reporting, and the historical moment when the Japanese people’s patience finally snapped.

October 17, 2019.
The thread of patience snapped…
In the public comments on the removal from the white list, more than 95 percent of Japanese people supported it.
Is this not precisely the moment when history changed?
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The Thread of Patience Snapped.
Miyawaki.
People use the term “historical revisionism” as though it were an insult.
But is revisionism not precisely what history is?
When new facts become clear, the story up to that point changes by incorporating those facts.
History that is not revisionist is either “ideology” or “religion.”
By the way, regarding this South Korea issue, I feel a change in national consciousness.
In the public comments on the removal from the white list, more than 95 percent of Japanese people supported it.
Is this not precisely the moment when history changed?
I feel that the leftists, beginning with Asahi, are panicking over this trend.
Takayama.
Even on wide shows, South Korea’s strange aspects are being taken up every day.
Miyawaki.
To be honest, I do not think this much time should be taken up by the South Korea issue.
Takayama.
Behind the scenes, it is certainly true that China, which is far more malicious and cunning, is doing all kinds of things.
However, until now, whenever it came to the South Korea issue, the massacre issue of the Great Kanto Earthquake would be revived, and things were glossed over with phrases such as, “Well, with an adult judgment.”
As a result, even Takeshima, Japan’s inherent territory, was taken.
When that happens, they become arrogant.
Even when a Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft was irradiated with radar, even when they imitated monkeys in a soccer match to mock Japanese people, and even when they installed a comfort woman statue in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, Japan kept being done to.
That, too, has reached its limit, and now, at last, South Korea’s true nature has become visible.
One can see how much pent-up resentment had accumulated from the enthusiasm of the wide shows as well.
The fact that, in the end, Shukan Post became no fire-extinguishing at all despite Asahi Shimbun making a fuss over it is good proof of this.
I think the beginning of this movement may have been the 2015 comfort women agreement.
Mr. Abe apologized, acknowledged that there had been military involvement, and even paid one billion yen.
South Korea was delighted, saying it had won, got carried away, and said that the issue was “finally and irreversibly resolved.”
Japanese conservatives were furious over this agreement.
But, as expected, there was nothing irreversible in South Korea, and it broke the promise, thinking that it could still make a fuss.
Next, it brought up the so-called wartime labor issue and exposed before the Japanese people its true nature, which was no longer normal.
Thereupon, the Abe administration calmly began a diplomacy of not taking the other side seriously, saying, “You are a country below third-rate that cannot even keep promises,” and “The white-list status is wasted on you.”
The deception that had covered the Japanese people’s field of vision until now through intellectuals and half-baked cultural figures has finally cleared, and Japan has at last come to know South Korea’s true form.
The same is true of wide shows.
TV Asahi used to produce programs worshipping Asahi Shimbun editorials as truth, but now it has clearly weaned itself from Asahi and is taking the lead in covering the South Korea issue with a proper eye.
It does not care what Asahi editorials say.
Even regarding the Takeshima issue, Asahi attaches the prefix “Japan and South Korea both claim sovereignty,” but TV Asahi, and even TBS, that pro-South Korea stronghold, have begun to state clearly that South Korea is “illegally occupying” it.
Miyawaki.
Things have changed considerably. (laughs)
If South Korea breaks the Japan-South Korea agreement, brings up the wartime labor issue, and then says it will take even more money, Japanese companies will think this is strange.
Since many of the sponsors of television are Japanese companies, it is only natural that television stations should take that into consideration.
Even the Japanese people, patient as they are, have awakened.
Takayama.
That is why, in the public comments requested by the government, more than 95 percent supported Abe’s policy toward South Korea.
Miyawaki.
It is comparable to the 2008 frozen dumpling poisoning incident, in which Chinese pesticide had been mixed in.
At that time, more than 95 percent supported import restrictions as well.
When the Chinese government said, “Persuade the Japanese people,” the Japanese side replied, “Japan is a democratic country, so we cannot persuade the feelings of the people.” (laughs)
Takayama.
America continued to buy Chinese-made pet food.
Then dogs died one after another. (laughter)
It became clear that the judgment of the Japanese people had been correct.
Miyawaki.
Because Japanese people stand on the belief that human nature is fundamentally good, they first accept things.
They watch gently over the long term, saying, “Even so,” or “That is going too far.”
But after repeated concessions, once the thread of patience finally snaps, then all one hundred million people change their thinking together.
This article continues.