LONDON -- Japan's image abroad ought to be better than it is. The Japanese economy has largely recovered. Reform continues. Democratic processes are working. Japanese educational standards and technical abilities are admired. Each of these statements can and no doubt should be qualified, but the overall picture is fair. Yet Japan's standing abroad does not fully reflect this picture.
There are a number of reasons for this. One is the Yasukuni issue allied to a fear of growing Japanese nationalism. Japanese spokesmen do their best to put the issue in perspective and officials, no doubt, try to warn Japanese politicians that nationalistic speeches are unhelpful, but the problems won't go away and spin cannot hide the issues.
Another is the specter of China as a growing world power, which in the eyes of some observers is likely to put Japan into the shadow. There can be no denying that China has become the factory of the world, but friends of Japan reiterate the country's strengths, its ability to adapt, its democratic institutions and society.