Amid yen appreciation, falling oil prices, and global market collapse, only Asahi Shimbun and its aligned intellectual class appear to welcome Japan’s hardship.

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2016-02-11

The other day, I received a phone call from a close friend.

“It’s finally reached the stage where we can say your hypothesis has proven correct,” he said.

I had just returned home from photographing wild birds in Kyoto under clear skies.

“With a stronger yen, plunging oil prices, and a massive market downturn, the picture is complete. But the real question is—who on earth is pleased by this situation?”

“Surely it’s the Asahi Shimbun and the so-called intellectuals who have long aligned themselves with it. In particular, people like that woman from Doshisha University must be delighted.”

They take pleasure in Japan’s suffering.
They rejoice when the Abe administration struggles.

Just as you predicted, markets have been driven down in Japan, Germany, and New York, while the yen strengthens and oil prices fall. When you think about it, both a stronger yen and cheaper oil are nothing but good news for China.

Over there, a single command is enough to trigger action.
In contrast, Japan is filled with so-called intellectuals who argue not for Japan’s benefit, but for China’s or South Korea’s.

As a result, Japan is divided on every front.
Even with a clear security crisis looming, the media still amplifies opposition voices, joined by the same class of intellectuals.

The current economic situation is equivalent to a national emergency.
Meanwhile, the enemy acts in complete unity.

Given that they openly carry out relentless cyberattacks, there is no reason to believe they would feel the slightest moral restraint about destabilizing markets—the very foundation of capitalist nations—for enormous profit.

Calling them the embodiment of evil would not be an exaggeration.

Japan, on the other hand, remains hopelessly divided, unable to unite even in the face of national crisis.

If, as your hypothesis suggests, the dictators of the Chinese Communist Party are the main actors behind this operation, then this must be the easiest battle imaginable for them.

They have likely already secured profits more than sufficient to offset any capital flight.

That was how the conversation ended.

What stayed with me most strongly was my friend’s remark:

“Only Asahi Shimbun and the so-called intellectuals aligned with it are surely pleased with the current situation.”