Transition And Essence Of Asia View On Modern Japan

The word "Asia" came into use in the course of Europeans' global venture for wealth and colony centuries ago.Since its inception,it carried different meanings at different historical times and in relation to different subjects.The ancient Orient as represented by China was once perceived as the center of civilization,but since 19^th century as Europeans began to use a Eurocentric approach of civilizational development to interpret the evolution of human society,"Asia" became synonymous with backwardness and uncivilizedness.The traditional Japanese view of Asia is rooted in the Huayi international order in East Asia and the notion of a nation of deities;whereas modern Japan's perspective of Asia is the combination of traditional Confucian thinking and Eurocentric view of Asia.The leader mentality is the continuation of the traditional thinking,whereas the "break away from Asia and merge into Europe" is closely associated with the Western conception of Asia.This Western idea is also useful for Japan to claim to have integrated civilizations of both the East and the West,and provides the theoretical basis for becoming the leader of Asia.For modern Japan,"Asia" is not only the ideational entity with "uncivilized" commonalities,but also a geographical area under the Huayi international system.Japan wants no part of the former but sees itself the natural leader of the latter.There was once some a call for aiding Asian neighbors but it was soon submerged into the dominant perspective of"Asia".This modern perspective of Asia is the intellectual origin of the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere".Although the military expansion failed miserably with the end of the World War II,its influence still lingers in today's Japan.For Japan to return to Asia,only after whole-hearted reflections of its historical Asian perspective can Japan build relationships of mutual trust and true friendship with its Asian neighbors.