putting Maritime Asia as the origin of globalization. One can find the origin in the 5th century before Christ, or "globalization" may have is origin in earlier long-distance trade. Of course Maritime Asia is a good way maybe to open our minds to the possibility of having multiple identities because people move from one place to another through a sea line. The problem arises when we want to use this for a future perspective. The goods traded among nations are no longer just physical goods, but also services and ideas, which can be transferred from one place to another without using a sea line. Maybe we should start looking into what Anthony Reid suggested, which is a post-national identity. I remember Professor Sakamoto, who speaks about a fans-national civil society, where the communities stand firm against the onslaught of the market and intervention of the state.
｡?SHIRAISHI
My question is in a sense very simple. I came up with this question when I was listening to Dr. Tanaka's comment.
When people start to ask "What is me?" or "What is the world? ", their point of view will change radically. It changed radically about 400 years ago or 500 years ago, and again about 150 years ago. My question is simple: Is it still changing radically? Dr. Kawakatsu seems to say it is changing now. I would Like to hear other panelists, comment on that.
｡?LEE, Jong won
Professor, Faculty of Law, Ricky University
My question may relate to Dr. Shiraishi's question. Japanese civilization is described in great contrast to modern western civilization. It is a very beautiful world but under what conditions does such a world appear or not appear? If it comes to the fore in the 21st century, is it because people choose it or will it be a change under special conditions?
I tend to think of socio-economic conditions or various factors influencing decision-makers of policies since I am studying political science, which is a very worldly, materialistic subject. I seem to understand that the nation learned from Hideyoshi's failure and selected its own policies. When the Japanese selected the direction of its civilization, it is a historical fact that the beautiful Japanese civilization was suddenly switched to the modem Western civilization. Was it only because of Yukichi Fukuzawa's opinion?
Another question is also related to the above question. Did such a change occur only in Japan which was blessed with special conditions? Several conditions have not been clarified but for example, because Japan is an island country, or surrounded by the sea, are such geographical conditions, or furthermore geopolitical conditions necessary? Other Asian countries are located in the continent or at other geographically different places. Accordingly, in those countries (for example, China) will such a vision never be realized? Is it a scenario to be realized only in Japan? Or is it a more universal one? You said even Europeans have some yearning for Japan but you can hang one picture to satisfy your yearning. I would like to ask how far can it be reproduced by social unit? Can we make its replica?
｡?Machete IOKIBE
Professor, Faculty of Law, Kobe University
Dr. Kawakatsu asked about 500 years ago, the age which cal be an origin of Kingen Taishi in the world of the sea and Dr. Reid himself also studied this. Including Dr. Tanaka's comment, this session successfully represented the academic tide in which a new meaning of history was developed and revived from a new point of view. While doing that, all of you showed, like Dr. Kawakatsu's perspective, a very wide perspective, a vision that culture can be turned to civilization. I am impressed by that.
And yet it is not an unrealistic, optimistic view. Dr. Reid tried to arouse our attention and warn us, saying, won't it lead to fatal explosion as a society or as an individual human being? Dr. Nandy said there is an occasion where a society might become allergic to great change and have a fit in such a case. When everything is going smoothly, it is all right. As long as East Asia is developing smoothly and people are happy, it is all right. But what about when economic crisis suddenly strikes Asia, like now, or like in Japan when the Great Kanto Earthquake hit and people were massacred? If the present Asian economic crisis passes quickly with little damage, there will be no problem. However, if it leads to serious political crisis, such a terrible massacre may occur again. Does the society have the resistance or strength to stop it? An earthquake is the problem of one nation but when we compare the Great Kanto Earthquake with recent Kobe Earthquake, there is are great differences such as the communication of global information.
Does the society have power to cope with such new factors when all people are watching from outside? Those things will be very important. I would like to talk about those matters more, but I would like to end this session here. We listened to four multi-sided, very meaningful reports. I feel great sympathy with all of them and would like to express my deep gratitude.
