Should Japan distance herself from the U.S.?
 

I personally believe it is in Japanese best interest to distance ourselves from the U.S.

1) have our own military and have the U.S. forces leave
2) work on closer ties with China and SEA.
3) don't depend on the U.S. market, work on markets everywhere.
4) Balance the economy by importing far less expensive fashion goods.

Japan doesn't have to be a huge economy to have a healthy economy and we wouldn't need U.S. protection from our neighbors if we didn't side with the U.S. in the first place.

I think this is really a question for the residents of JAPAN.

will they benefit if distanced from AMERICA?

I think Japanese got to ans this themselves, but I think unless Japan can rely less on USA economic (like Automobile trading) I don't think Japan has much choices, but to follow the USA.

I don't really like the idea of having US bases in Japan either Kanagawa or Okinawa, but please ask yourself "How could Japan defense itself from North Korea in case of war?"

I'm curious: Why China?

For improving your defense I suggest taking this self-defense course :D
YouTube - Monty Python - Self-Defense Against Fruit

Let me answer those individually:

1) The Japanese already have the self-defense forces, and it's one of the more powerful militaries in the world. I think Japan and the US should have more of a partnership, with Japan assuming more responsibility and the US slowly phasing back, but still keeping a military presence there as a deterrent to attacks from NK and China.

2) They can and should work on repairing relations with China and SEA, but not replace the US with those ties. If China and SEA demand that Japan be hostile to or overly critical of the US in order to be friends, then they aren't friends at all.

3) Yes, of course they should look for markets everywhere. I think products made in Japan can be found all over the world... surely Europe and other places have Sony and other Japanese items.

4) I don't think you balance the economy by allowing or disallowing things to be imported. If a company sends its goods to Japan and they don't sell, then they won't send them as much or at all. If they do sell, they'll send them. Some Japanese are very fashion-conscious and only want expensive brand-name goods. I think the culture needs to become more accepting of non-label goods in order for those items to stop selling as much. Banning their imports will just create a craze to get them, like it used to be with Levi jeans.

As for your final comment, it's ridiculously naive to think that "not being friends with the US" will appease neighbors like North Korea. In fact, that will be like waving a red cape in front of a bull...

hell yes!

America is the most dangerous nation on earth.

You know, comments like that don't exactly help your side of the debate.

im not the op

I think I have to agree with pretty much everything samurai007 said... just out of curiosity though, I'd like to hear some justification & reasons for why you think this, chiuchimu. In your opinion, how should Japan go about the things on your list, and what would be the desired outcomes of each?