The last big news of 2008 would be the fierce fight in the Gaza Strip. I'll show you my personal perspective about Japan as the first writing of the year 2009.
The U.S. and USSR (or Russia) that have never waged all-out war against each other because of both having nuclear weapons. If both countries opened hostilities without nuclear weapons, could Russia wage a fearlessly as courageous battle as Japan had done against the U.S.
The U.S. vs. Russia, China vs. the U.S. and China vs. Russia: They have never gotten into an all-out fight, though small regional fights might happen.
It has been Japan only that engaged in total warfare face to face with these countries and chilled the heart of them, which had been acknowledged as superpowers since before Meiji Restoration (1868).
Japan, that has developed to the second highest GDP country, following the U.S. in only half a century after being burned to the ground in the Greater East Asian War.
Japan, that has potential to be able to build up nuclear weapons or aircraft carrier fleets in a short period of time once it is determined to do so.
The country that the U.S., Russia and China fear in a true sense. Might it be Japan?
(Vocabulary)
all-out (攻撃･キャンペーンなどが）総力を挙げての、全面的な
hostilities (複数扱い/フォーマル) 戦闘 交戦
wage a fearlessly courageous battle 勇猛果敢に戦いを仕掛ける
engage in warfare (with) （～と）戦争する
chill the heart of 心胆を寒からしめる
be burned [burnt] to the ground 焦土と化す
scorch 焦土化する
in a true sense 真に
核兵器があったために総力戦にまでは至らなかったアメリカとソ連だが、仮に核兵器抜きで戦ったとしたら、ソ連はアメリカに対して、日本ほどの敢闘を果たすことなど可能だっただろうか。アメリカ⇔ソ連、中国⇔アメリカ、中国⇔ソ連(ロシア)。小競り合い程度の戦闘はともかくとして、互いに総力戦を戦ったことなど１度としてない。明治維新以前から、世界の超大国と認識されていたこの３国と、バカ正直故に真正面からぶつかって、しかもその心胆を寒からしめたのは日本だけだ。
大東亜戦争の敗戦で焦土とされてから僅か半世紀にして、アメリカに次ぐ世界第二位のＧＤＰという水準にまで経済的復興を果たした日本。
一旦「やろう！」と決意すれば、日ならずして核兵器だろうが空母艦隊だろうが、保有が可能な潜在能力を秘めている現在の日本。
米露中が真に恐れている国、それは日本なんじゃないだろうか。
That's quite an interesting perspective. You may be absolutely right. Size doesn't always matter, does it? Good job!
Posted by: Sarah | Jan 18, 2009 at 11:49 PM