Nothing is Perpetual

 

Nothing is Perpetual

It might draw some ire from Japanese people, but although it differs slightly from the post-war partition plans, let me share my own vision of Japan’s future.

Truman became president unexpectedly, but he was a man of great decisiveness and execution — dropping the atomic bombs, firing MacArthur, and flatly rejecting the partition of Hokkaido.

Although Japan managed to retain its four main islands, Stalin’s partition proposal — which included lines connecting Rumoi and Kushiro — was actually quite realistic, and there must have been debates within the U.S. on how to handle it.

Truman rejected the proposal not out of concern for Japan, but because he wanted to maintain the American sphere of influence. Then again, since the Soviets had not actually invaded Hokkaido the way they did in Kaliningrad, executing the plan might have been difficult anyway.

It is clear just from looking at a map why Russia wants Hokkaido: geographically, it forms a natural chain connecting Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. It offers ice-free ports, and it is entirely understandable why a continental power like Russia would want to acquire such islands.

Lately, China’s influence has been growing in Kyushu. While this is purely an impression based on the sheer number of Chinese people there, northern Kyushu was historically a vassal state of ancient China, as evidenced by the King of Ito gold seal.

One hundred years from now, the map of Japan might look entirely different from how it does today.

Because Japan consists of four clearly defined islands, the point of this story is that if the nation doesn’t work hard to protect itself, there is no telling what the future holds.