Japanese history teaches us, perhaps better than our own, to disregard the temptation to denounce monarchies as useless
Tuesday marks the close of what will be known as the Heisei era in the Japanese calendar, although it’ll take us all a while to remember to write Reiwa on the cheques. Students of Japanese culture like to overstate the radical foreignness of the Japanese monarchy, and the era transition is a good example. It is not such a long time since Canadian law students had to learn the Commonwealth version of the same dating system for the purpose of looking up statutes.
Most everybody knows how the office of the Japanese Emperor became “ceremonial” for the better part of 700 years, and how the archipelago was governed in isolation by what we call the shogunate. The first Westerners who established diplomatic relations with Japan in the 19th century did not think of the Emperor as analogous to Queen Victoria at all. For years they thought of the Mikado as primarily a religious functionary, a sort of pope performing funny, tedious rites in seclusion.
After centuries in abeyance, their constitution somehow allowed them to conjure a enlightened despot of enormous ability But while Japan was defeated, it had not been invaded. So Gen. Douglas MacArthur and a few foreign-policy brainiacs reached a magnificent, cynical modus vivendi: they would exploit and reshape the Japanese monarchy rather than smashing it. As a soldier, MacArthur, made Supreme Commander of occupied Japan, would have shot the Emperor with his own sidearm and never lost a minute’s sleep.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Colby Cosh: A non-conscientious objector’s personal defence of not votingIt’s important the public has a right to say no to the ruling class and rotate its personnel nonviolently. But I don’t cast a ballot myself
Read more »
Colby Cosh: P.E.I.’s vote offers a bright future to Green parties … on one tricky conditionIf you followed the P.E.I. campaign at all, you know the Green platform wasn’t especially, uh, green
Read more »
Colby Cosh: Social Credit may be dead. Long live Social Credit!Yet our age appears to be acquiring some of the same distrust of capitalism, and appetite for economic fads, as those of the 1930s
Read more »
Colby Cosh: A non-conscientious objector’s personal defence of not votingIt’s important the public has a right to say no to the ruling class and rotate its personnel nonviolently. But I don’t cast a ballot myself
Read more »
Colby Cosh: Social Credit may be dead. Long live Social Credit!Yet our age appears to be acquiring some of the same distrust of capitalism, and appetite for economic fads, as those of the 1930s
Read more »
Colby Cosh: P.E.I.’s vote offers a bright future to Green parties … on one tricky conditionIf you followed the P.E.I. campaign at all, you know the Green platform wasn’t especially, uh, green
Read more »
Raptors reach new playoff dimension with first-round win over Magic - Sportsnet.caAfter putting on a clinic in Game 5, the Raptors seem determined to launch themselves further. (michaelgrange) Presented by UberEats:
Read more »
Launch of Canadian Premier League marks new era of soccer in Canada - Sportsnet.ca.jamessharman and craigforrest1 talk about the launch of the CanPL and what it means for the development of young players in Canada.
Read more »
Canadian Premier League kicks off, marking new era for soccer in CanadaSaturday’s CanPL match between Forge FC and York 9 FC was a landmark day for the sport in Canada, marking the birth of a new soccer league “for Canadians, by Canadians” after many years of hard work behind the scenes. (JohnMolinaro)
Read more »
Canadian Premier League prepares to kick off a new era of soccer in CanadaCanadian Premier League prepares to kick off a new era of soccer in Canada Globe_Sports
Read more »
Woods says he'll play new PGA Tour event in JapanMasters champion Tiger Woods is adding to his international travels at the end of this year, announcing Wednesday night that he will compete in Japan for the first time in 13 years at the new Zozo Championship.
Read more »