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The Long Defeat: Cultural Trauma, Memory, and Identity in Japan by Akiko Hashimoto (review)

The Long Defeat: Cultural Trauma, Memory, and Identity in Japan by Akiko Hashimoto (review) between diplomacy, development, and defense. This may be easier said than done where the strength of the bureaucracy and its historic roots are concerned. It might be that the dramatic reconfiguration of central government organization in 2001 is finally having some effect. It seems that Japan, 70 years after the end of the war, is getting closer to a Westminster-style parliamentary system and a cabinet government not only in form but even in practice. Although Brian Woodall does not come to this conclusion--the manuscript was completed in 2013--the book is nevertheless a very valid contribution to our understanding of the Japanese parliamentary system. History is important, although too often forgotten. In the conclusion, the author brings up the role of path dependency which I find extremely useful as an explanation of political developments in Japan--perhaps just as useful as the institutional theory the author is using to explain why cabinet government has not taken root in Japan. The detailed account of the changes in the parliamentary system is a rich source to turn to for anyone interested in questions of government and democracy in Japan. As the author himself points out, the book also raises important questions on http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Japanese Studies Society for Japanese Studies

The Long Defeat: Cultural Trauma, Memory, and Identity in Japan by Akiko Hashimoto (review)

The Journal of Japanese Studies , Volume 42 (2) – Aug 6, 2016
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Publisher
Society for Japanese Studies
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Japanese Studies.
ISSN
1549-4721
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Abstract

between diplomacy, development, and defense. This may be easier said than done where the strength of the bureaucracy and its historic roots are concerned. It might be that the dramatic reconfiguration of central government organization in 2001 is finally having some effect. It seems that Japan, 70 years after the end of the war, is getting closer to a Westminster-style parliamentary system and a cabinet government not only in form but even in practice. Although Brian Woodall does not come to this conclusion--the manuscript was completed in 2013--the book is nevertheless a very valid contribution to our understanding of the Japanese parliamentary system. History is important, although too often forgotten. In the conclusion, the author brings up the role of path dependency which I find extremely useful as an explanation of political developments in Japan--perhaps just as useful as the institutional theory the author is using to explain why cabinet government has not taken root in Japan. The detailed account of the changes in the parliamentary system is a rich source to turn to for anyone interested in questions of government and democracy in Japan. As the author himself points out, the book also raises important questions on

Journal

The Journal of Japanese Studies – Society for Japanese Studies

Published: Aug 6, 2016

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