Repeated provocations by South Korea, symbolized by the fire-control radar lock-on incident against a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft, forced the Japanese public to recognize the limits of Japan’s patience.
Based on an essay by Kadota Ryusho published in Sound Argument, this article argues that Japan must adopt the same firm stance toward Korea that the United States and China maintain, while also addressing the influence of pro-Korean and anti-Japanese forces within Japan.

2019-02-05

For a long time Japan continued relations with Korea through its characteristic patience, but through this series of events the entire Japanese people have come to recognize that such patience has reached its limit.

The following is from an essay by Kadota Ryusho titled “Impose Sanctions on Korea,” published in the recently released monthly magazine Sound Argument.

◎A Chance Has Arrived for Japan–Korea Relations

Finally, the repeated provocations by South Korea have caused the patience of the Japanese people to snap.
Even in Korea, where many believe that “anything can be done to Japan,” there must be those who have begun to realize the scale of Japanese anger.
In that sense, the fire-control radar illumination by a South Korean naval destroyer against a Japan Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft, and the subsequent shifting excuses and counterattacks that have astonished the world, are actually welcome developments for the future of Japan–Korea relations.
It is obvious that without a certain level of “restraint” and “respect” between nations, friendly relations cannot be maintained.
If one refuses to listen to the other side, fails to keep promises, or treats the other with contempt, even personal relationships cannot survive.
Yet South Korea has not shown such restraint and respect toward Japan.
Nevertheless, Japan continued its relations with patience for a long time, but this series of incidents has made the entire Japanese people recognize that the limit has been reached.
What would happen if South Korea behaved toward the United States or China in the same manner as it has toward Japan?
South Korea would immediately receive a harsh retaliation and fall into a miserable situation.
Therefore they never do such things.
They only do them to Japan, which they believe they can treat in any manner.
If one considers this, it becomes immediately clear what is necessary for the future of Japan–Korea relations.
Korea must be made to show the same restraint and respect toward Japan that it shows toward the United States and China.
In other words, Japan only needs to demonstrate the same firm attitude toward Korea that the United States and China display.
All that remains is to consider the “means” for doing so and remove the “obstacles” that prevent it.
At last, that momentum has begun to emerge in Japan.
This means that there is now the possibility that genuine Japan–Korea relations may eventually emerge.
It is truly something to be welcomed.
However, in reality, there are many in Japan who wish to portray Japan as the villain under any circumstances—so-called “anti-Japanese Japanese,” as well as pro-Korean politicians and pro-Korean media.
Whenever something occurs between Japan and Korea, they urge, “Let us remain calm,” “Do not escalate the situation,” and “Japan is at fault,” always guiding public opinion toward Japanese concessions.
As a result, South Korea has grown endlessly arrogant and has ultimately lost all restraint and respect toward Japan.
Even now, anti-Japanese forces within Japan are working behind the scenes with great effort.
But many Japanese people have finally realized that their very existence is the root cause of the current situation.
In that sense, without question, a “chance has arrived” for Japan.
(To be continued.)