However, in Japan what you see isn't always what you get--this applies in all aspects. We can insert the concept of honne and tatemae here. And, now the same situation puts Japan and her possible power in the global arena at fix.
Tracing Japan's psychology towards change from the Tokugawa Period until the Post-World War II, it seems that extreme options and changes had taken place:
500 year- bound to the code of Samurai => sudden modernization in Meiji restoration => Ubernationalism (WWII) => Absolute Pacifism in renouncing War
Notice that extreme changes, reformed Japan over the decades. US created a pacified Japan, by binding them in a single Article in the Japanese constitution to show the world, how the ultra-nationalists have transformed into a tamed sheep. Japan appreciated this sudden pacifism. For a country torn by war, she was able to rebuild herself, without worrying about the global security--as an abnormal state. Japan took advantage of this abnormality and concentrated on becoming an economic hegemon. But those days ended, when the heated Cold War has chilled down , Gulf War and recently,9/11.
Groupism- Japan has never experienced to be placed in a neutral situation. She was used to have an ally to rely on ( Germany during WWII and US during Post-war). Japan may not scream military influence and strong agendas in global politics, but she is under US' wings--this is not a neutral position. -This shows how Japan needs to be in a group, to be accepted. However, we should not forget the scars incised by JApan to her fellow Asian nations. These 2 factors are Japan's greatest dilemma, why change in constitution, although persistent, are of failures.
Internally, the old and New world may live in harmony in Japan, but politically, the old leaders (SDP) and new minds (LDP) live in argument whether change is needed or not. Some of the old leaders are still trapped in the ideal realm of pacifism that ,as long as Japan lives in harmony, change is not needed. But as mentioned previously, Japan is now on crossroads and placed where in 1 step of change is very critical. Is the revision really needed because the global situation calls for it and japan is at fix or a hidden goal or Honne lies beneath this "dilemma"?
These are possible reasons why efforts for metamorphose seems to be out of reach. The complexity of Japanese Mind + the complex situation of the Global Society and politics makes change a lot more difficult.
^-^ just a yen worth of musings over watermelon juice and cable tv.
