Tuesday, January 21, 2014

日本を取り戻そう ! ! ! ! ! !

日本を取り戻そう (read; Nihon wo tori modosou, (hereafter; NWTM)) was coined by the prime minister of Japan. It implies taking back Japan. For folks who aren’t very conversant with Japan and its pre-war and post- war history (ies), it may sound like an ordinary political rhetoric, a catch phrase, a campaign slogan or jingle for the purpose of acquiring the maximum votes simply because it sounds sweet to the ears [particularly if you are Japanese].

 This phrase, I tell you, is very far, very far from this. It originates from a man who has been there (in the seat of power), tasted it, left it (owing to ill health) and returned (He did say “I’ll be back!”).

 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is BACK!!! After a short few years honing his strategy(ies) away from the public glare. It is obvious that he spent a great deal of time re-examining his every step / move made during his first stint as prime minister. Not only has he returned as a healthier prime minister but also as one with grand ideas about what and what to achieve for his beloved country.

This Abe is very different from the one that presided over Japan during his first stint in office, and that is why rather than “美しい國を作りたい” we have “日本を取り戻そう”.

NWTM was coined by a man who was sickened by the state in which he found his beloved nation. He stepped aside after a few months into his term as prime minister the first time because not only was he overwhelmed by what he saw, he as not prepared for what he saw.

However, this new, reformed, revitalized Abe has the resolve and the mettle to deal with the situations that he initially encountered. He has had more than ample time to analyze the situation of things, identify the main problems, the symptoms of the problems and the root causes of most of these problems. He has returned with a passion to set the ship of state on a course that guarantees safe passage through the global socio-economic and political waters of today’s world.

NWTM is not just about the now of Japan but about the future and the sacrifices that MUST be made to ensure that this island nation itself makes history, leaving tracks in the sands of time for others to follow rather than become history.

I think all Japanese should work with Mr. Abe in charting this great course for Japan.