Accepting Defeat

ACCEPTING DEFEAT “Never quarrelling amongst themselves, always making everything together.” In other words, “never fighting among themselves, always working together.” (Hindustan Times, April 4, 1981). ACCEPTING DEFEAT Embracing the present lays the foundation for the future. Those who refuse to acknowledge their current reality risk missing the greater opportunities that await them. Japan faced defeat against the United States in World War II. In April 1945, American forces landed in Japan, and General Douglas MacArthur was appointed as the Supreme Commander, staying until 1951. Under General MacArthur’s direction, a new Japanese Constitution was drafted and passed by the Japanese assembly on November 3, 1946. According to this Constitution, the Emperor of Japan’s status was reduced to that of a symbolic head of state. Article 9 of the Constitution declared that the Japanese people would never again maintain land, sea, or air forces, nor would they prepare for war in any capacity: “Land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 10, p. 87).” On the surface, this Constitution seemed like a declaration of Japan’s permanent national demise. However, Japan’s leaders wisely accepted it in its entirety, recognising that while it closed the door to military and political initiatives,