The Secret of Life

THE SECRET OF LIFE Awareness of one’s lagging position ignites the courage to push forward. Those who fail to acknowledge their lagging position will remain perpetually behind, with progress always out of reach. The Japanese people consider themselves descendants of the sun, believing that their lineage is superior to others, granting them the right to dominate other nations. This belief gave rise to the slogan ‘East Asia for Japan.’ This sense of superiority and entitlement fostered a militant attitude throughout Japanese history, particularly between 1937 and 1945, as they fought other nations to assert this self-declared right. Initially, Japan experienced success in this war, capturing Manila in 1942, as well as Singapore, the Netherlands, and Rangoon. However, in the pursuit of further conquest, Japan ultimately lost everything it had gained. During World War II, Japan and the United States were adversaries. Japan had conventional bombs, while the U.S. developed atomic bombs, disrupting the balance of power. In July 1945, the U.S. dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan, which shattered Japan’s military might. America emerged victorious, leaving Japan with no choice but to accept what one observer described as a “humiliating surrender” (Time, April 13, 1987, p. 15). In response, Japan demonstrated realism. On August 14,