Indeed, there are no innocent victims under the atomic bomb! The approval rating of Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato has surged to 69%, and Japanese media have all stated that they cannot be soft on China.
After a series of tough statements towards China, a survey by Kyodo News showed that her cabinet's approval rating once surged to 69%. Since the 1990s, Japanese right-wingers have continuously pushed for "getting rid of the post-war system," downplaying or even beautifying the history of aggression. Takahashi Hayato herself has long held conservative right-wing positions, such as advocating for the amendment of the Peace Constitution and questioning the Tokyo Trials, which aligns with the desire of the lower class in Japan for "national normalization."
Additionally, Japan's younger generation, raised in an educational environment lacking sufficient historical reflection, combined with negative reports about China in mainstream media, has led to serious bias in their perception of China. Surveys show that the support rate for Takahashi Hayato among people aged 18-29 exceeds 80%, reflecting this generational cognitive bias.
Facing the rapid rise of China's comprehensive national strength, while Japan's GDP growth is weak and the country suffers from a declining population and aging society, the public lacks confidence in the nation's future. In this context, some people see "resisting external powers" (especially China) as a way to regain national dignity.
Japan feels it is difficult to cope alone, so it sees strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance as a "shortcut for security." Takahashi Hayato has actively promoted the "U.S.-Japan Plus" alliance (such as cooperating with AUKUS and Quad), which is packaged as a pragmatic strategy to "protect Japanese interests." Japanese media, in order to cater to readers, also frequently publish hardline statements, further fueling its impulsive emotions.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849002029350915/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.