The Secret of Life

THE SECRET OF LIFE military officers and nationalists who felt dishonoured.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 10, p. 86) Japan adopted a pragmatic approach, accepting a secondary position (“Number 2”) after World War II. However, this did not mean Japan was content to remain in this position forever. Rather, it sought a period of rebuilding without directly confronting the powerful United States. Under this policy, Japan accepted U.S. dominance politically and economically while focusing all its energies on science and technology. Over time, this approach bore fruit. Within thirty years, Japan transformed from a defeated nation into an economic powerhouse. Japan produced highquality electronics and other products that even Americans preferred over their domestic options due to better quality and lower cost. This situation deeply unsettled American policymakers, as one American politician, Pete Wilson, remarked, “The Japanese semiconductor Godzilla is now destroying everything but Tokyo.” After World War II, Japan was indebted to the U.S., but by 1986, the situation had reversed. Japan became America’s creditor. In 1986, American goods imported into Japan were worth $26 billion, while Japanese exports to America reached $ 85 billion, creating a significant trade imbalance. By 1986, Japan had a trade surplus of over $ 85 billion with the U.S., making America the world’s largest debtor and Japan the largest creditor (Time, April 13 and April 27, 1987). This shift has inspired numerous books. In the U.S., a