What Elites Should Know
If you had known beforehand that Haiti is one the most corrupt country, the meaning of the great earthquake might have been so different to you.
If you know part of history of Japan, the miracle of Japan (the first non-European modern nation to be so industrialized) might look different to you.
SECTION I: How Much Are Nations Corrupt?
The below figure shows one example of the measure on corruption of countries recently much focused on in various contexts.
(Click to enlarge.)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/gov_cor-government-corruption
The most corrupt country Haiti suffered a severe earthquake.
Chile less corrupt as much as Japan also suffered a severe earthquake
Yet, even when applying European/American standards, Japan is less corrupt as much as the U.S.
Now, which is more corrupt between the American Republican Party and the American Democratic Party?
For your reference, the former is more pro-Japanese and the latter is more pro-Chinese.
Which is more corrupt between the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)?
For your reference, the LDP is more pro-American and the DPJ is more pro-Chinese.
SECTION II: Samurai President Ieyasu and King James I
Tokugawa Ieyasu finally became the ruler of Japan in 1603, putting an end to the power struggle among samurai lords since 1467 since the emperor and his court had lost power for centuries.
King James I also started his reign in 1603, heralding his own theory of the divine right of kings to vie with the Vatican.
History linked samurai king of Japan Ieyasu directly with British king James I:
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During the time of James I rule England's' parliament was dealing with the Catholic influences in its society in much the same way as Ieyasu was dealing with the influences of Catholic Priests and missionaries in his own country. Both came to regard the priesthood of the Catholic Church as a fifth column of Spanish influence in their countries and sought to eliminate the possibility of its success by suppressing the effectiveness of catholic influences in their individual countries.
Ieyasu would begin to actively aswage the influences of the Catholic Faith in his country by direct intervention and the wholesale persecution of the Christian influences in Japan. Ieyasu would promote his own diefication and create the Tokugawa dynasty that would last another 250 years throught he end of the Edo period.
In England the the movement against the Catholic influences would take the form of the Puritians removing Charles I from rule and trying him for treason against his countrymen and substituting a parlimentary government under Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell's poliical and military campaigns would effectively unite the United Kingdom for the first time in its history.
Although James I advocated the concept of "The Divine rule of Kings" and published his own treatise on the concept by the end of James I rule in England the differences between the effects of the protestant reformation and the Catholic Church were more than apparent, entirely new concepts of an individuals personal responsibility and social rights were beginning to be formulated.
England's puritan movement, the protestant reformation and Oliver Cromwell effectively removed the concept of "The Divine Right of Kings" by putting Charles I (James I son) on trial for high treason against his own countrymen.
Japan on the other hand chose rule by a rural elite buddy system organized around Ieaysu's personal inner circle while England reorganized its government around the new ideals of free trade in commerce, humanism and scientific thinking. England through the Puritan movement deposed the concept of "The Divine Rule of Kings" and established a constitutional government ruled by a parliament. This concept was to be carried to America by these same Puritans and the concept of Constitutional Government run by elected officials of the people was to become the cornerstone of the American political system.
With the arrival of William Adams to Japan in 1600 and the assumption his advisory relationship with Ieyasu the body politic of the European Community became a topic of discussion between the two men. Adams favor with Ieyasu was in part because of his unique perspective and his willingness to reveal this information to the Japanese ruler.
When John Saris showed up to negotiate trade agreements with Japan for The English East India Company Ieyasu already knew who to send his correspondence to and the two rulers would begin their personal relationship conducted through letters sent by couriers transporting the documents and gifts between the two rulers.
Besides the written correspondence on a personal level there were items of interest still in existence today in both England and Japan that changed hands during these political processes. Suits of armor were exchanged and James I sent a clock to Ieyasu that was built in Spain in 1581 which had found its way to into his possession during his political exchanges with Spain. These items are prime examples and remain a testimony of the beginnings of the globalization of trade that has continued to create significant changes in both directions to this day.
http://artsales.com/ARTistory/Xavier/James_I.htm
(http://www.shizuoka-cvb.or.jp/oogosho400/study/05_12.htm)
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Far before the independence and establishment of the United States of America, Japan and England was about to enter global trading partnership around 1610's.
However, descendants of Tokugawa Ieyasu decided to close the door of Japan except for China and the Netherlands.
Yer, the Tokugawa samurai regime continued till 1867.
The Stuart dynasty ended in 1714 in the Great Britain.
It should be noted that this episode tells that Japan or at least Japanese elites were aware of situations in Europe and the world even during the period of national isolation for 250 years, since Ieyasu and King James I directly corresponded to each other.
So, it is no wonder that Japanese modernization which started in the late 19th century resulted in great success even before WWII.
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Now, March of 2010 (FY 2009 for Japan) is going to end in Japan in 10 minutes or so.
A year ago, nobody in Japan was sure about if the regime change would be realized through the coming election, even if the DPJ had been to win more seats than the LDP.
A year ago, nobody in America was sure about if President Mr. Barack Obama would be able to sign the health care reform bill in a year or so.
Today, everybody must be happy.
But, March of 2010 (FY 2009 for Japan) is going to end in Japan in 10 minutes or so.
Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.