Japan, the Jews, and Israel: Similarities and Contrasts

Although an ally of Nazi Germany during World War II, Japan adamantly refused to accede to German demands to deal harshly with the some 40,000 Jews living under its control. While there was anti-Semitism in Japan since the early 1920s, there was also philo-Semitism and great admiration for Jewish power, influence and achievements. Japan-Israel relations were very strained and tense from 1952 to the early 1990s due to Japan's dependence on Arab oil. But since 1990 the policy of Japan has changed radically and the country is now a close friend of Israel in East Asia. Meron Medzini compares and contrasts Israeli and Japanese society, foreign policy, and above all economic and technological ties. He analyzes the presence of Jews in Japan since the 1860s and the absence of any Jewish influence, power, and involvement in Japanese arts, media, academia, politics, labor unions, and industry.