The Chinese-Japanese Relatory Paradigm: China Is Now the Top Source of Foreign Tourists to Japan

[Aepsilons]

Sino-Japanese relations remain frosty amid ongoing territorial tensions and in the wake of China’s massive military parade lauding Japan’s World War II defeat. But Chinese tourists are flocking to the Land of the Rising Sun in unprecedented numbers, according to newly-released data.

China has surpassed South Korea to become the largest source of foreign tourists to Japan, according to recent data from the Japan National Tourism Organization.

About 4.3 million mainland Chinese tourists visited Japan from January to October this year, comprising about 25% of all tourists to Japan during that period, the agency said. The figure is double the number of tourists who visited during the January-to-October period last year.

South Korea had the second largest contingency for travelers to Japan, with 3.2 million tourists from January to October this year, the agency’s data showed. Taiwan was third, with 3.1 million tourists over the same period.

A weakened yen, along with a downturn in Chinese travelers to Hong Kong, has helped fuel Chinese tourism in Japan. Relaxed visa rules for Chinese citizens, which went into effect in January, have also helped make cross-border travel to Japan easier.

Among mainland tourists who traveled to Japan from July to September, nearly 67% were making their first visit to Japan, according to the Japanese agency. Their main expenditures included accommodation and shopping, with the average shopping expenditure totaling 152,991 yen per person (about 7,960 yuan or about $1,244).

During the October Golden Week holiday alone, Chinese tourists in Japan spent more than $830 million on shopping, according to the state-run China Daily.

According to the China Tourism Research Institute, China had 61.9 million outbound travelers in the first half of 2015, up 12% compared with the same period in 2014.


China Is Now the Top Source of Foreign Tourists to Japan - China Real Time Report - WSJ

 

[Aepsilons]

Welcome, Chinese friends, to the Land of the Rising Sun !

Chinese tourists photographing Japanese Sakuras (cherry blossoms).

 

[war&peace]

Friendly ties between people are essential. Both countries should forget past and move forward. China is a rising power and cannot afford to be stringed to the violence in past while Japan should be able to say sorry to China for the massacre by Japanese army in China.
It took me a long time to tell Japanese, Koreans and Chinese apart from each other but now I can easily spot the difference in facial features

 

[Beast]

It is a weapon deploy by CPC. Once those Japanese hospitality industries are addicted to Chinese tourist spending. If a sanction is enforce against visiting Japan when Japan has gone too far against China policy. It will hit Japan economy hard especially Japan economy is not doing well.

Japan’s Economy Contracts Again - WSJ

 

[Aepsilons]

Friendly ties between people are essential. Both countries should forget past and move forward. China is a rising power and cannot afford to be stringed to the violence in past while Japan should be able to say sorry to China for the massacre by Japanese army in China.

I agree with you. Japan, as a strategic ally of the United States and as a contributing partner of NATO, has to maturely juggle relations with the West, and at the same time effectively handle the ascendancy of China. The latter's rise doesn't necessarily have to translate as a threat to Japan, rather, introduce new opportunities for Japan to encourage and facilitate greater economic and cultural exchanges between our great filial cousins to the west (China). I suppose Japan has to handle this matter respectively.

Japan and China have geopolitical even territorial disagreements, however, all problems can be handled judiciously and efficaciously with proper bilateral mechanisms and with proper compromise. I suppose Japan and China can focus on strategic ambiguity in regards to territorial differences, and focus on more promising and long-term goals such as lean process goals, and greater research cooperation.

In other words, focusing on the common ground rather than on the gaps.

It is a weapon deploy by CPC. Once those Japanese hospitality industries are addicted to Chinese tourist spending. If a sanction is enforce against visiting Japan when Japan has gone too far against China policy. It will hit Japan economy hard especially Japan economy is not doing well.

Japan’s Economy Contracts Again - WSJ

Well Japan has an ageing society, this is a reality. In fact not only Japan, but also East Asia as a whole: Taiwan, South Korea, China (yes), and Japan. In fact this is a problem East Asia has to tackle and to gradually reverse as it is a threat to the region's potential and competitive abilities juxtaposed to other regions.

Now in regards to Japan; Japan's population will eventually taper down to 100 million in the next 40-50 years, due to the current demographic trends. Naturally, due to the decreased work force, this will limit certain sectors in industry. Certain sectors that have been offshored already (e.g, Japanese manufacturing exports to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, the United States et al).

One thing is evidently clear, my friend, the inexplicable link of the Japanese economy to the Chinese economy. Japan's economic was severely affected with this year's Chinese stock debacle, and the slowing Chinese economy have affected Japanese exports (given that China is our largest trade partner). What has helped the market recently was the Yuan's ascendancy as reserved currency as recognised by the IMF. Any negative growth speculation regarding China affects the Japanese economy severely.

That is a reality we have to understand. Again it goes back to the theme of balance and mature handling of relations with the Chinese and the United States.

It is a weapon deploy by CPC. Once those Japanese hospitality industries are addicted to Chinese tourist spending. If a sanction is enforce against visiting Japan when Japan has gone too far against China policy. It will hit Japan economy hard especially Japan economy is not doing well.

Japan’s Economy Contracts Again - WSJ

Well, its called cultural or soft power influence. Even before Chinese tourists flocked to Japan in such present levels , there was already a large and advanced academic-based reciprocity program between major Japanese research institutions (colleges, universities, zaibatsu-backed think tanks) with Chinese research institutions. In academia, it is common for Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese coreserachers to work with each other with impunity. Counter-research, countered with peer-reviewed analysis is commonplace. In fact the level of cooperation amongst Japanese and Chinese researchers is relatively high especially in STEM fields, even in social sciences fields.

@TaiShang , you can vouch for me on this.

What this means is that the high degree of bilateralism between Japanese and Chinese scholars is present. Cultural exchange is a second form of relatory development paradigm. As you see, even current geopolitical differences fails to negate or impede the growth of Sino-Japanese exchange on the societal-level.

I suppose this is good. This illustrates the multidimensionality of the two societies' relations and national perspectives, different from politically-influenced polling or schematic , integrated analysis.

 

[war&peace]

I agree with you. Japan, as a strategic ally of the United States and as a contributing partner of NATO, has to maturely juggle relations with the West, and at the same time effectively handle the ascendancy of China. The latter's rise doesn't necessarily have to translate as a threat to Japan, rather, introduce new opportunities for Japan to encourage and facilitate greater economic and cultural exchanges between our great filial cousins to the west (China). I suppose Japan has to handle this matter respectively.

Japan and China have geopolitical even territorial disagreements, however, all problems can be handled judiciously and efficaciously with proper bilateral mechanisms and with proper compromise. I suppose Japan and China can focus on strategic ambiguity in regards to territorial differences, and focus on more promising and long-term goals such as lean process goals, and greater research cooperation.

In other words, focusing on the common ground rather than on the gaps.



Well Japan has an ageing society, this is a reality. In fact not only Japan, but also East Asia as a whole: Taiwan, South Korea, China (yes), and Japan. In fact this is a problem East Asia has to tackle and to gradually reverse as it is a threat to the region's potential and competitive abilities juxtaposed to other regions.

Now in regards to Japan; Japan's population will eventually taper down to 100 million in the next 40-50 years, due to the current demographic trends. Naturally, due to the decreased work force, this will limit certain sectors in industry. Certain sectors that have been offshored already (e.g, Japanese manufacturing exports to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, the United States et al).

One thing is evidently clear, my friend, the inexplicable link of the Japanese economy to the Chinese economy. Japan's economic was severely affected with this year's Chinese stock debacle, and the slowing Chinese economy have affected Japanese exports (given that China is our largest trade partner). What has helped the market recently was the Yuan's ascendancy as reserved currency as recognised by the IMF. Any negative growth speculation regarding China affects the Japanese economy severely.

That is a reality we have to understand. Again it goes back to the theme of balance and mature handling of relations with the Chinese and the United States.

Japan remains the most developed and advanced nation in Asia and even in the world though some experts have negative prediction about Japan's future with its growing population of old people and dearth of kids etc but I guess Japan will overcome these problem and will stay here. Japan can help Asian countries in science and technology and build a strong rapport with them including China which despite being a large economy, a manufacturing hub and military is still far from an original R&D power. However to gain more popularity and respect among Asian countries, Japan will have to say good bye to NATO as it is seen as a weakness and kind of an impediment to the independent role of Japan as a peaceful power in Asia. NATO is already loathed by most the world.

 

[cnleio]

Following years, the Japan economy will more and more depend on China market & Chinese buyers ... a rising China means a normal China return from the history.

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan remains the most developed and advanced nation in Asia and even in the world though some experts have negative prediction about Japan's future with its growing population of old people and dearth of kids etc but I guess Japan will overcome these problem and will stay here. Japan can help Asian countries in science and technology and build a strong rapport with them including China which despite being a large economy, a manufacturing hub and military is still far from an original R&D power. However to gain more popularity and respect among Asian countries, Japan will have to say good bye to NATO as it is seen as a weakness and kind of an impediment to the independent role of Japan as a peaceful power in Asia. NATO is already loathed by most the world.

1. Japan, as a country, is already currently overpopulated for our current land mass. As it stands we have about 128 million people , living on four major islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido. A stabilization process to keep the population within the 100-110 million range is ideal. Again, Japan is no "small" country as our population is roughly equal to the population of Germany + Spain combined. Or better yet similar to the population of Russia subtracting 10 or so million.

2. As for development, yes, Japan has been the greatest contributor to global , regional development investments for the past 70 some years. This has been part of our nation's goal ever since the end of the war and has been testament to our atonement of our past crimes in the last war; by refocusing our energy on developing post-colonial independent states throughout Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East et al. This paradigm will continue unabated for the indefinite future.

3. As for defense related relations; the term I would like to use is Omnidirectionality. It has always been the premise of previous Japanese administrations post-WWII. Japan has historically been linked with the United States-led NATO for a long time; however, we are seeing Japan's Omnidirectionality with recent development of ties with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Djibouti, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Cuba, why even with the PRC, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, et al. I think the overall, long term goal is to adopt a more neutral-focused foreign affairs orientation, albeit firm on international freedom of navigation.

Following years, the Japan economy will more and more depend on China market & Chinese buyers ... a rising China means a normal China return from the history.

It cannot be denied; trade alone between Japan and the Mainland is north of $340 Billion; but trade between Japan and Greater China (Mainland + Hong Kong + Taiwan + Macau) exceeds $500 Billion. Half a Trillion. This is the largest in Asia. One of the largest in the entire world, actually. Even despite the fact that Japan and China do not have an FTA --- still trade level has reached Half Trillion USD level. Even despite geopolitical differences.

 

[cnleio]

It cannot be denied; trade alone between Japan and the Mainland is north of $340 Billion; but trade between Japan and Greater China (Mainland + Hong Kong + Taiwan + Macau) exceeds $500 Billion. Half a Trillion. This is the largest in Asia. One of the largest in the entire world, actually. Even despite the fact that Japan and China do not have an FTA --- still trade level has reached Half Trillion USD level. Even despite geopolitical differences.

Well just as we see the mainland of China (PRC) now is Japan's biggest trade partner over U.S but Japan not the 1st one for China ... it seems Abe's Japan economy become more reliant on trading with China, Abe is a standard politician who anti-China in Japan but his job going for opposite direction. In my eyes something can't changed by some Japanese politicians whatever anti-China or pro-China, Japan can't stop the rising of China even the nation economy unconsciously close to China rising. Future whatever Abe plan to do in Japan or leading Japan to where, he need think twice the economic relations between Japan and China.

Today Japan meet a rising China, this rising just the beginning for China ...

 

[Aepsilons]

Well just as we see the mainland of China (PRC) now is Japan's biggest trade partner over U.S but Japan not the 1st one for China ... it seems Abe's Japan economy become more reliant on trading with China, Abe is a standard politician who anti-China in Japan but his job going for opposite direction. In my eyes something can't changed by some Japanese politicians whatever anti-China or pro-China, Japan can't stop the rising of China even the nation economy unconsciously close to China. Future whatever Abe plan to do in Japan and leading Japan to where, he need think twice the economic relations between Japan and China.

My friend no one in Japan, especially the leaders, believed that China can be 'contained' in terms of growth. This is why the 1978 Treat of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the Peoples Republic of China was signed and relations formally and officially re-established. Why even before the signing of such agreement, the Japanese Keidenren saw the ultimate potential of China, hence the Japanese investments in the country, the developmentalist goals in the country, which ultimately influenced Japanese politics to effectively and finally solve the diplomatic ambiguity between Tokyo and Beijing. There was already an understanding, even during such times, that China (PRC) would surpass Japan. Realizing and accepting this was the catalyst for Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in China (PRC) early on, and to assuage the Chinese industrialization process. Even before China became a world economic power, it was Japan (not the West) that saw China's ultimate potential.

In fact relations between Tokyo-Washington was used as a conduit and basis for the West's eventual entente with Beijing several years later.

1978, Deng Xiaoping toasting with Fukuda on restoration of ties with Japan and China (PRC).

Deng received by the Imperial Guard of Honor, Tokyo 1978.

 

[cnleio]

My friend no one in Japan, especially the leaders, believed that China can be 'contained' in terms of growth. This is why the 1978 Treat of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the Peoples Republic of China was signed and relations formally and officially re-established. Why even before the signing of such agreement, the Japanese Keidenren saw the ultimate potential of China, hence the Japanese investments in the country, the developmentalist goals in the country, which ultimately influenced Japanese politics to effectively and finally solve the diplomatic ambiguity between Tokyo and Beijing. There was already an understanding, even during such times, that China (PRC) would surpass Japan. Realizing and accepting this was the catalyst for Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in China (PRC) early on, and to assuage the Chinese industrialization process. Even before China became a world economic power, it was Japan (not the West) that saw China's ultimate potential.

In fact relations between Tokyo-Washington was used as a conduit and basis for the West's eventual entente with Beijing several years later.

1978, Deng Xiaoping toasting with Fukuda on restoration of ties with Japan and China (PRC).

Deng received by the Imperial Guard of Honor, Tokyo 1978.

China thanks Japan investments in 1980s, that ever helped China economy development. Just as far as i knew, recent 10-years China rising & economy rapid development already beyond the general Japanese ppl imagine ... most Japanese might not believe what happened in China during past 10 years, and might not used to a strong rising China as ur neighbour. Tell me @Nihonjin1051, Do Japanese ppl really understand China & ready to make friend with a strong China not that poor China before ?


Last weekend, i back to my university attending the college reunion ... eight years after left our university, i find most of my classmates had own house and bought cars, most of us just spent eight years into the middle-class in China (the richest already driving BMW) ... not a bad speed to make rich in China compared with other most nations. China is rising and get stronger, Chinese ppl also changing too much.

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan can't stop the rising of China even the nation economy unconsciously close to China rising. Future whatever Abe plan to do in Japan or leading Japan to where, he need think twice the economic relations between Japan and China.

Today Japan meet a rising China, this rising just the beginning for China ...

No, I think you mis-translate Abe's premise. To know Abe you must know his family , to know his family, you must known his family history. Abe's family are actually ancient, they are of the original house of Nobility of Yamato. His ancestors claim lineage from Tai Bo of Wu (a royal descendant of the Wu Court). This is covered in Abe's Family Crest and Family Shrine. Abe, himself, can trace back his relations and ancestors that came from Wu (China).

Secondly, Abe's grand father was a known Sino-aligned politician. His grandfather was the late Nobusuke Kishi, who was a "reform bureaucrat" within the Japanese government who favored an etatist model of economic development with the state guiding and directing the economy. Kishi was an Imperial Representative to Manchukoku (Manchuria) and was one of the leading proponents that argued for the development of Manchukoku , and the development of China. Kishi, unlike the sympathizers of the Imperial Army, had dreamed of Japan supporting and industrializing China through an alliance formation. He had seen the potential of the economic abundance of China, and how China can play a role in that development, as well as China's contribution to the Japanese Empire's prosperity. Kishi was an ardent anti-war politician, he became extremely unpopular by the Imperial Army that he was given death threats to stay silent when the Imperial Army initiated the Mukden Incident in 1931. Actually throughout the prosecution of the War, Kishi moved back to Japan because he had been so outspoken with war with China. He was then placed in house arrest for the duration of the war.

Shinzo Abe, and the the grandson, holds similar views. However, you see, Abe's ultimate goal is the re-awakening of Japan's military industry, and like most ardent patriots of the LDP, wants to gradually decrease the American influence in Japan. And this has been realized under his term where he has promulgated new revisions to the constitution regarding defense activity, and removal of limitations of the JSDF's abilities and total reliance on the United States Military. I think it would be more accurate to say that Abe will utilize the China 'threat' the United States perceives as a conduit for more constitutional articulation changes. Changes that will ultimately lessen Japanese defense reliance on the United States and will enable Japan to broaden her external affairs diplomatic relations; security being one of the many variables of interest.

Abe is not an 'Anti-China' politician, no, to think so is too 'naive' of you, my friend. Abe is a politician, a shrewd diplomat, and a develomentalist, to the core. He shares his grandfather's passion for cooperation with China. You have to understand that he has to commence with certain pleasantries to appease certain sectors of the constituency whom elected him, and to balance sectors in the American government and population.

Abe is a Japanese patriot, in the end. He was elected to power not because he was 'anti-China', but more so because he was 'Pro-Japan' and vocal about it.

------------

Nobusuke Kishi (lower left), discussing with the Imperial Army in Manchukoku on development.
Circa 1929.

 

[cnleio]

No, I think you mis-translate Abe's premise. To know Abe you must know his family , to know his family, you must known his family history. Abe's family are actually ancient, they are of the original house of Nobility of Yamato. His ancestors claim lineage from Tai Bo of Wu (a royal descendant of the Wu Court). This is covered in Abe's Family Crest and Family Shrine. Abe, himself, can trace back his relations and ancestors that came from Wu (China).

Secondly, Abe's grand father was a known Sino-aligned politician. His grandfather was the late Nobusuke Kishi, who was a "reform bureaucrat" within the Japanese government who favored an etatist model of economic development with the state guiding and directing the economy. Kishi was an Imperial Representative to Manchukoku (Manchuria) and was one of the leading proponents that argued for the development of Manchukoku , and the development of China. Kishi, unlike the sympathizers of the Imperial Army, had dreamed of Japan supporting and industrializing China through an alliance formation. He had seen the potential of the economic abundance of China, and how China can play a role in that development, as well as China's contribution to the Japanese Empire's prosperity. Kishi was an ardent anti-war politician, he became extremely unpopular by the Imperial Army that he was given death threats to stay silent when the Imperial Army initiated the Mukden Incident in 1931. Actually throughout the prosecution of the War, Kishi moved back to Japan because he had been so outspoken with war with China. He was then placed in house arrest for the duration of the war.

Shinzo Abe, and the the grandson, holds similar views. However, you see, Abe's ultimate goal is the re-awakening of Japan's military industry, and like most ardent patriots of the LDP, wants to gradually decrease the American influence in Japan. And this has been realized under his term where he has promulgated new revisions to the constitution regarding defense activity, and removal of limitations of the JSDF's abilities and total reliance on the United States Military. I think it would be more accurate to say that Abe will utilize the China 'threat' the United States perceives as a conduit for more constitutional articulation changes. Changes that will ultimately lessen Japanese defense reliance on the United States and will enable Japan to broaden her external affairs diplomatic relations; security being one of the many variables of interest.

Abe is not an 'Anti-China' politician, no, to think so is too 'naive' of you, my friend. Abe is a politician, a shrewd diplomat, and a develomentalist, to the core. He shares his grandfather's passion for cooperation with China. You have to understand that he has to commence with certain pleasantries to appease certain sectors of the constituency whom elected him, and to balance sectors in the American government and population.

Abe is a Japanese patriot, in the end. He was elected to power not because he was 'anti-China', but more so because he was 'Pro-Japan' and vocal about it.

------------

Nobusuke Kishi (lower left), discussing with the Imperial Army in Manchukoku on development.
Circa 1929.

Of course im sure Abe 100% pro-Japan ... how about the general Japanese ppl thinking about China, expecially a rising China ?

 

[Aepsilons]

China thanks Japan investments in 1980s, that ever helped China economy development. Just as far as i knew, recent 10-years China rising & economy rapid development already beyond the general Japanese ppl imagine ... most Japanese might not believe what happened in China during past 10 years, and might not used to a strong rising China as ur neighbour. Tell me @Nihonjin1051, Do Japanese ppl really understand China & ready to make friend with a strong China not that poor China before ?

My friend, i think the answer is : of course. Japanese have always known, respected, and adored the Chinese spirit. The Chinese longevity, the Chinese history. China can never be contained, China is the progenitor of Japanese civilization; modern day Japanese came to the Japanese Archipelago by way of China thousands of years ago. China was 'contained' in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, however, the country's shear size, and the people's unique characterstics and work ethic is guarantor of their ultimate rise again.

I think the decision regarding China was made long ago in 1978. You just have to read about Japanese plans for alliance with China ; it was actually the United States , under Reagan, that forced Japan's hand to take up a more restrained position with Beijing.

Please read into the Soviet factor in this.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

China is over 1.3 billion people, and all the Chinese tourists probably represent less than 10% of the entire Chinese population.

You cannot have 100% of the entire population to be politically sensitive.

Prior to the WWII, the US was also one of Japan's major trading partners, but it didn't change anything.