From “Japan” as Island Nation to “Japan” as Maritime Nation

Medieval European maritime nations started sailing far across the sea for their adventure voyages from the Mediterranean coast, seeking a further new and unknown world. They then brought back a great deal of discovery and a variety of information to their country, making significant contribution to breakthroughs of humanity.
Then finally reached to the island nation “Japan” in the Far East, brought new cultures and information with a feeling of astonishing surprise and admiration to our ancestors. As they knew further, the surprise changed to fear, and our ancestors chosen to close the nation off firmly from the outside except for certain countries leading to national isolation.
During the isolation, our ancestors continued developing our culture unique to the island nation but, as a result, were left behind far away by the world civilization, interfered strongly by powerful countries including the United States, and forced to open the country with an unequal treaty.
Patriots anxious about Japan’s future decided to put away the Japanese history and traditions to break the status quo, chose to open the country, and positively learned knowledge, information and technologies in various fields from the developed countries. They then worked toward fortifying the country and strengthening the military in rivalry with the powerful countries, leading Japan to the only country in Asia experiencing industrial revolution, which would build the foundation for the present Japanese industry, and exponential progress catching up with the powerful countries.
This revolutionary restoration, however, made the Japanese confident and conceited, which resulted in acceleration towards reliance on the army. Even now, after approximately 70 years since the world war, the island nation “Japan” still almost loses its confidence at every occasion owing to the pain of old wound, and tends to shut itself away. Now is the time to getting out of the island nation mentality to overcome the past and contribute to the world as a maritime nation “Japan”. We should learn from past experience including misfortune of our predecessors and regain well-balanced confidence as Japanese.

“Yamato sprit, fly high ahead to the world!”

Masami ENDO, President