Sometimes notions about Japan can be generalized too much, but it would be tough to argue that the population isn’t graying, nationalistic and homogenous. Further, its economic and diplomatic position in the world is uneasy, in part because of the rise of an open and ambitious China. Two exchanges from Hiroki Manabe’s new Asahi Shimbun interview with Joseph Caron, the former Canadian ambassador to Japan.

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“Question:

Do you have any recommendations for Japan in regards to dealing with China?

Joseph Caron:

This is where I see interesting parallels between Canada and Japan, even though the situations are very different. Canada was created in 1867, and Japan’s Meiji Restoration was in 1868. At almost the same time, we in Canada were faced with a continental country emerging from civil war and considering taking over the continent, while Japan had opened to an international environment that promised opportunity and threats.

Many Canadians did not like the idea of being closely associated with the U.S., because they themselves, their parents or grandparents were from Britain. Most Canadians even then lived within 100 kilometers of the U.S. border, so we had to find ways to adjust. It was a real struggle.

Similarly, Japan needs to find ways to adjust to its international situation with China. Japan, South Korea and every other country in the region has to contend with China. Japan is struggling with this reality. What we are seeing in China is what we saw from the United States from the 1880s through the 1920s. There are parallels in the kind of challenges Japan is facing.”

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“Question:

Why do you think young Japanese today are reluctant to go abroad?

Joseph Caron:

When I was in China I spoke at universities in both English and French, and I was blown away by the quality of the students I encountered. The students could clearly ask good questions in either English or French. In the same way, the next generation of Japanese have to become truly cosmopolitan.

Even though Japan has 127 million people, its population is shrinking, so the next generation is going to need greater skills and become truly international. The last frontier is in our heads. And one thing that can be done to bridge that final frontier is to have more Japanese students go abroad, and for more international students to go to Japan.”