As an international studies student, we are required to
familiarize ourselves with the economy and politics of other countries and the
turning points that happened in world history. When we were still taking our
INTGLOS class, we are asked to watch a movie about the World War II in Japan’s
point of view. This became really memorable and relevant to me, because it was
a very different experience given that in almost all history books, Japan has
always been given the perception of being the antagonist and the America being
the hero.
In the
movie, I have seen how devastated Japan was after the World War II. They experienced a lot of death in their
population, ruined infrastructures and sudden scarcity of resources. It is why
this project made me very interested about learning how Japan stood from that
failure.
Upon
researching, I have seen that it is not only me who thought that it must have
been almost impossible for Japan to rise from that situation. I have read a lot
of articles about how other countries perceived and called Japan’s rise as a
miracle.
It is really
fascinating how Japan became the second largest economy in the world in the
middle of 20th century given of what happened to them in the Second
World War. However, in the research, I was also informed about the conditions
of their lost in the World War became a blessing in disguise for the fact that
they did not have to spend on their defense for quite some time because the
United States ordered them to stop any military engagement for international
safety and that it will be the United States who will provide them if in case
they will need one.
What made
Japan very successful are their export industry and their world class
technological innovations. However, the global economic crisis really affected
their economy which eventually led to recession because the demand for their
exports decreased. Aside from that, Japan
also experienced a problem with their labor force because of the lack of their
working population.
But the
cycle did go on. Japan experienced a downfall then it will rise, will fall, and
will rise again. This was experienced with another challenge in Japan’s economy
in the form of the disastrous earthquake they have experienced in 2011. This
made the whole world see how Japan intelligently handled their problem and how
civilized and cooperative its people were.
Generally,
Japan experienced failure for many times but its rigor and eagerness to stood
and excel never left them. The Japanese Miracle has always been there –inspiring
other people and allowing other countries to look up to them. This is the
reason why they have always been deserving of the title “THE RISING SUN.”
