The Extreme Decline of Japanese Militarism

According to Chinese writer Hu Wei (胡伟), the Japanese as a nation and people is on a path towards deterioration.

In his book 美丽的中国人 (or The Beautiful Chinese, Writers' Publishing Press, 1998), Hu noted that if you were to ask Japanese in their 20s the question "who will protect Japan from military invasion", you are likely to get the following answers:

1. Escape to the United States.
2. Hire those from the Third World to fight for us.
3. Surrender immediately.
4. That is precisely the reason why we need the Americans on Japanese soil! (Ok, indirect answer there).

Hu noted that if you were to ask the Chinese the same question, the answers would be:

1. We'd safeguard our nation!
2. We'd join the army!

Half ridiculing the decline of Japanese militarism, Hu added that young Japanese who join the army these days would be ridiculed for not being smart or competent enough to do anything else in life.

Hu also noted that no army in the world would allow their soldiers to live outside of the military barracks. This also explained why troops were slow in responding in the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake.

Hu added: "Furthermore, without the high salaries and free driving lessons, only a fool would join the army."

In addition, when Japan started dispatching peacekeeping troops, all hell broke lose when some soldiers either refused to go, or declared they would quit the military.

Hu wrote: "Of course, these dissenting troops were not thinking of profound questions such as the revival of Japanese militarism. Rather, they were afraid to die. But even so, their superiors did not dare do anything to them. Because if harsh penalties were meted out, no one would want to join the army."