Japan gehört zu den reichsten Ländern der Welt. Gleichzeitig hat das Land den mit Abstand am höchsten verschuldeten Staatssektor. Welche Entwicklungen zeichnen sich – auch vor dem Hintergrund der demografischen Herausforderung – für Japans Wirtschaft und die Staatsfinanzen ab? In seinem Gastbeitrag “Reiches Land – armer Staat: Japans Wirtschaft im Griff der Demografie” erklärt DIJ-Direktor Franz Waldenberger u.a. wie Japans niedrige Arbeitsproduktivität, Alterung, Bevölkerungsrückgang und Japans Geldpolitik zusammenhängen. Angesichts sehr gut ausgebildeter und leistungswilliger Arbeitskräfte sowie einer exzellenten Forschungs- und Entwicklungslandschaft sieht Waldenberger gute Voraussetzungen, die aktuellen Herausforderungen zu meistern. Ebenfalls im Japan-Heft: DIJ-Alumna und ehemalige Beiratsvorsitzende Verena Blechinger-Talcott mit einem Beitrag zum Wandel in Japans Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik sowie der stellvertretende Beiratsvorsitzende David Chiavacci mit einem Artikel zur Arbeitsimmigration und dem Sozialvertrag in Japan. Die gesamte Ausgabe ist hier erhältlich.

A new, open access article by DIJ historian Dolf-Alexander Neuhaus analyzes the early interactions between Japanese and Korean Protestants who came to Tokyo to study between 1880 and 1895. The article argues that this encounter played a crucial role in generating enthusiasm among Japanese Protestants to disseminate their religious teachings in Korea through evangelization. Divided into three parts, the article first contextualizes the rise of Protestantism in relation to the evolving bilateral relationship between Japan and Korea; second, it delves into the interactions between Korean students and Japanese Protestants in the early 1880s; and third, it examines the emerging debate among Japanese Protestants regarding the potential for missionary activities in Korea. The article “El encuentro del protestantismo japonés con la Corea antes de la primera guerra sino-japonesa” (The encounter of Japanese Protestantism with Korea before the first Sino-Japanese War) is published in Spanish in the Revista Internacional de Estudios Asiáticos (vol. 3, no. 1) and can be downloaded here

The book chapter “Beyond the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Taking Stock of Thailand-Japan Relations” by DIJ researcher David M. Malitz provides an overview of the development of Japanese-Thai relations leading to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2022. David explains that due to demographic and technological change as well as the necessary transition to more sustainable economic development, the partnership’s economic backbone is faced with challenges. Nevertheless, and despite the growing influence of the People’s Republic of China, it is far too early to consider the Japanese-Thai economic partnership in terminal decline. Due to its importance for both sides, both governments have already declared their commitment to support it and make it fit for the future. Japan’s considerable soft power will be a major asset for this endeavour, the chapter concludes. David’s chapter is published in Southeast Asian Affairs 2024 (ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute), edited by Daljit Singh and Hoang Thi Ha.

With advancements in communication technologies and internet connectivity, avatar robots for children who cannot attend school in person due to illness or disabilities have become more widespread. Introducing these technologies to the classroom aims to offer possibilities of social and educational inclusion. While implementation is still at an experimental level, several of these avatars have already been introduced as a marketable service. However, various obstacles impede widespread acceptance.  In the open access research article “Staying connected: implementing avatar robots at schools in Germany and Japan”, DIJ’s Celia Spoden and Arisa Ema (University of Tokyo) identify structural similarities and differences in both countries. Their study, published in Frontiers in Digital Health, suggests that avatar technologies bear high potential for children to stay socially and educationally connected.

Japan has been considered a role-model for the successful pursuit of ‘progress’ or national development in Siam/Thailand since the late 19th century. As Senior Research Fellow David M. Malitz shows, the Japanese exemplar played a significant role in Siamese/Thai political discourse, with three of the kingdom’s most important conservative thinkers writing in detail about Japanese history. They interpret Japanese battlefield and economic successes as the outcome of the national character of the Japanese. The message of these works is that to pursue national ‘progress’, the Siamese/Thai need to be more like the stereotypical Japanese, and become more disciplined, and patriotic, as well as cooperating for the national good rather than pursuing particular interests. “Japan for Example – National Character as the Driving Force of National Progress in Thai Conservative Writings about Japan” (Manusya: Journal of Humanities, 26(1), 1-15) is available open access here