Any likelihood of reform is receding fast

Venom-spewing U.S. pollutes pond for all fish

2008/11/18

The final years of the Edo Period (1603-1867) were turbulent times. Foreign vessels kept showing up uninvited in Japanese waters, while a spate of devastating earthquakes and fires wrought havoc on the old Japanese capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo). Popular unease found frequent expression in namazu-e catfish pictures, a genre of ukiyo-e images dealing with mass culture.

In traditional Japanese folklore, catfish were underground dwellers that caused earthquakes. Typical namazu-e of the era depicted monster catfish punished by people for causing quakes, but there were also those in which the namazu, contrite for the destruction they had caused, are shown aiding citizens in their post-quake reconstruction efforts.

In my mind's eye, I picture the United States today as a supersized namazu, weakened but still spewing venom after having acted out with shameless abandon for years. Smaller fish inhabiting the same pond, stuck with the woeful consequences that have befallen them collectively, gathered together over the weekend to discuss what to do. That, to me, sums up the Group of 20 financial summit in Washington.

The G-20 declaration admitted that "some advanced countries" had erred in addressing the risks building up in the financial markets, and that they would henceforth strengthen their cooperation to deal with the crisis. A translation into "namazu-speak" would go something like, "If we have to keep living in the same pond, we can't turn our backs on the problems of others. Small fry or a bit bigger, each of us needs to do what we can."

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other things, have depleted America's coffers. This means the country is dependent on foreign funding, and to make sure it keeps flowing in, the United States has to stick to its laissez-faire market policy and protect the dollar's prestige. That such U.S. interests have to trump the collective interests of the "pond" is indicative of what ails this big namazu.

And I have to wonder what good the G-20 declaration will do, given that it was issued by the outgoing president of the very country that is the epicenter of the current global economic upheaval.

In his book "Nazotoki Hiroshige 'Edo Hyaku'" (Explaining the riddles of Hiroshige's 100 works depicting Edo) from Shueisha Inc., Minoru Harashida (1947-2007) notes that the public's hope for social change in the wake of cataclysmic natural disasters led to the eventual transformation of the namazu's identity into that of a "god of social reform."

Like a big namazu, the United States is sometimes incorrigible. But when it does change, the change is swift and decisive. Remember, the next president who will assume office in January fired up the nation with his campaign message of change and the rousing, inspirational slogan of "Yes, we can."

In contrast, our political leaders couldn't be more anemic. The prime minister is trying to lure voters with fixed-sum cash handouts--worth about two days' part-time work per person--but is obviously scared of calling an election now. Any likelihood of reform is receding fast.

For our prime minister to follow the "leader of the pond," he needs to be even quicker and more resourceful. But sadly, he now has the gravitas of pond algae.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 17(IHT/Asahi: November 18,2008)