The following is from Mr. Sekihei's serial column that appears at the beginning of the current issue of the monthly magazine "Hanada.
I have mentioned many times that the monthly magazines Hanada and WiLL are must-reads for all Japanese citizens who can read the printed word.
It is a must-read not only for the people of Japan but for people all over the world.
Rethinking "What is Conservatism?
The formation of the Conservative Party of Japan added a new page to postwar political history.
It is an opportunity to rethink "What is conservatism?
I understand "conservatism" in the political, social, and cultural sense to mean, in the first sense, "valuing the traditions of a nation or ethnic community and properly preserving their essential parts. In any world, an idea or culture that disparages "tradition" can never be said to be "conservative.
Japan respects the oldest existing imperial family in the world, preserves the ancient Japanese national identity centering on the emperor, and cherishes and inherits the "spirit of Yamato" that Shintoism, Japanese Buddhism, and Bushido have cultivated over the long history of Japan.
It is the basis of the mindset of a true "conservative.
Because of this respect for tradition, conservatism is always considered the opposite of progressive and is sometimes labeled as "old-fashioned" by more progressive people.
In other words, a "conservative vs. progressive" opposition structure has been created.
But is "conservatism" really the opposite of "progressive," or is "conservatism" always "non-progressive"?
In fact, if we look at Japanese history, this is not necessarily the case.
The Meiji Restoration, for example, was politically and culturally progressive and was a kind of "revolution" that overturned the Edo Period's shogunate-han system and attempted to create a novel modern nation.
As is well known, however, the Meiji Restoration was promoted under the slogan of "restoration of the monarchy," a modern nation-state was established with the Emperor and the Imperial Family, which had a long history in Japan, at the top.
It was an innovation for modernization, but at the same time, it was a restoration that made the most of Japanese traditions.
In the Meiji Restoration, "conservatism" and "progressiveness" were successfully fused.
Japanese companies made various technological innovations during rapid economic growth after World War II.
They introduced groundbreaking products such as VHS (Video Home System), Walkman, and instant noodles, transforming the world's consumer culture.
The principles of organization that originated from the apprenticeship system of the Edo period, such as lifetime employment and seniority-based systems, underpinned the strength of Japanese companies in that era.
It can be said that Japanese companies, during rapid economic growth, achieved "progressiveness" based on "conservatism.
In Japan, conservatism and progressiveness are a friendly relationship, as if they are helping each other, and it is clear that the two are compatible.
One of the reasons for this is that Japanese traditions are both timeless and universal, progressive and ahead of their time.
Looking at the world, for example, "respect for women's rights" is a modern and progressive concept, and the establishment of this idea is regarded as "social progress.
On the other hand, in Japan, the land of Shintoism and emperors, where Amaterasu is the "ancestral deity" and female emperors are crowned, "respect for women" has always been a part of traditional culture.
As discussed in the March 2023 issue of this column, Japanese women in the Edo period were free to divorce and remarry, travel long distances, and receive an education.
Because of this good tradition, the guarantee and improvement of "women's rights" became a natural part of Japanese society in the modern era.
In other words, because of the excellent tradition, radical "women's rights movements" that excessively assert "women's rights" are unnecessary in Japan from the outset.
The recent issue of LGBT law is another example.
It is precisely in countries with religious traditions that are hostile to LGBT people and exclude them as much as possible that laws need to be created to protect their rights.
At the same time, in Japan, there is no traditional culture that discriminates against LGBT people from the start.
Japanese traditional culture, which has given birth to the unique Buddhist term "Kusaki Jyobutsu," or "the flowering plants become Buddhas," believes that even a single plant or tree has a Buddhist nature and does not discriminate against sexual minorities.
Even today, many LGBT people are active and popular on TV and in the entertainment industry.
It is outrageous that Japan's "progressive forces" have completely disregarded Japanese traditions and rushed through the passage of the problem-ridden LGBT law.
Many LGBT people have voiced their opposition to the passage of the bill.
In Japan, with its good old traditions, there is no need for such a bill; on the contrary, the bill's passage may even lead to a division of society.
In this sense, the birth of the Conservative Party of Japan, which was triggered by its opposition to the hasty passage of the LGBT law, is a manifestation of the conservative consciousness that comes from the heart of the Japanese people and is a praiseworthy political action in the true spirit of conservatism.
We conservatives will continue to be progressive in our efforts to preserve the traditions of Japan, which are of enduring value to us.
Sekihei
Critic
2024/1/11 in Kyoto
