In my blog of 29 May 2014 ‘Australia-Japan – friends should be frank’, I referred to the tipping point in Japanese domestic politics with the growing ultra nationalism being promoted by Prime Minister Abe. Sir Hugh Cortazzi, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Japan from 1980 to 1984 has expressed similar concerns about trends in Japan. In an opinion piece in the Japan Times on 3 November, he asked the question ‘Does right-wing extremism threaten Japan’s democracy?’ The link to this article is below. John Menadue.
John Menadue is the Founder of Pearls and Irritations and a board member. He was formerly the Editor-in-Chief. John was the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Ambassador to Japan, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and CEO of Qantas.