This would mean that their technological, industrial, manufacturing and monitary infrastructure will go to strenghtening a peer-competitor (Russia or China) which is not democratic and may be hostile to the USA, its other neighbors and the world.

Also, I think that many Japaneese haven’t truely considered the geopolitical picture and realized that their country may be in a precarious position not only visa-ve N.Korea, but with the issue of China and Russia.
Their country is also not a member of NATO, so the nuclear deterrence provided by the USA is not as strong as the one provided for Western Europe. Where there was a policy of Nuclear sharing (if a war occurs the USA will transfer Tactical weapons to NATO countires). Even still, the UK and France still opted to build their own minimal nuclear deterrance.

What I am saying is this, the Japanese people can not wish these problems away and the idea that if Japan remains peaceful it will not have enemies does not stand up to the test of history. Sweden, Norway and Finland were neutral at the onset of WWII and Hitler still attacked and occupies them because of their industrial infrastructure.

Japan and the other East Asian powers should not allow themselves to become a case study of what a wealthy, economically powerful country should not do.

I personally believe that the Democratic countries in Asia should be armed to the teeth, not because of the shortterm problem that south korea pose, but the longer term problem posed by China, Russia and in a small degree N. Korea

Japan WW II atrocities in Asia was over-simplified in your time-line. They killed, raped, burnt and looted, detailed in the book, The Gold Warriors. They built their wealth by enslaving American POWs in the book, Unjust Enrichment. They invaded China in a reign of terror by “Loot All, Burn All and Kill All” policy with the infamous Rape of Nanking, Comfort Women (kidnaped girls into forced military sex slaves, germ/biological warfare (books: Unit 731, Death Factory and A Plague upon Humanity), Slave Labor (American POWs, Lester Tenney), Military Notes.

Japan Prime Minister visit annually Tokyo Yakasuni Shrine where housed convicted Class A war criminals to revive past glory and resurrect militarism.

Does Japan Diet apologize and compensate the Asian & Dutch victims officially and promise to teach their younger generations not to repeat aggression again as Germany did? Instead, they whitewash, distort and even deny their war crime against humanity. ( Please check VHS tape titled Murder Under the Sun, Japanese War Crimes and atrocities, Lou Reda Production).

Your show documented why Japanese people led by monks oppose to change Article 9.

This is why Japan was defeated in the bid for UN Security Council member lately !

This is why SDF oversea deployment was closely watched!

Japan is a peaceful nation, however, the peaceful nations are surrounded by un-peaceful neighbours.

America is known to trick other countries into doing their bidding. Philippines is a prime example during the Pacific war. They shouldn’t have armed and attack the Imperial Army, for it was a doomed and failed slaughter. Filipinos still resent that tactic today.

America also pushed Iraq to arm and attack Iran. Not a very smart event, outside of securing oil with a the intent of having the muslims fight each other.

America also is attempting to arm Japan and push them into bigger roles against China and even Iraq.

This is where it stops. Japan’s Diet should have absolute right to declare war, no other body in parliament. And the SDF although should be ran freely to build up the MSDF and ASDF without restrictions, should not be allowed to engage in combat without the Diet.

Call Japan’s Article 9 self-pity or moral principal of humanity, either way too many folks died. America, China, Korea are the countries that didn’t learn after the Pacific as they continued on with several more wars.