ALTHOUGH I have read it before, the book's title “The Arabs from a Japanese perspective” prompted me to read it again and explore in depth the numerous ideas it has raised. The book, written eloquently in Arabic, has successfully diagnosed Arabs' long-standing problems with modernization, reform and development in a fresh and compelling way. The heart-rending criticism it contains is crafted by a Japanese author who has been studying the Arabic language, has visited almost all Arab countries and has witnessed the Arab world's most major events during the past 40 years. Maybe more importantly than any other factor, such a critical voice is not coming from the imperial or colonial West, as some skeptics usually say, but rather from the East where there has been little, if any, influence by military or cultural confrontations between his country and any of the Arab countries. Nobuaki Notohara is a Japanese author and translator who has studied Arabic language and has become fascinated by the life in the Arab world, the Arabic literature and the great social transformation that is taking place in the Arab world nowadays. His ever-growing interest in the Arabic literature, particularly the modern literary works, has led him to translate numerous works from Arabic into Japanese. His approach to the situation in the Arab world is worth considering not only by an ordinary reader but also by any leadership that would like to see greater reformist steps taken in the country. Unlike some countries in the Arab world, Japan is a country without any natural resources. Its geology is susceptible to nature's most ferocious earthquakes and volcanoes. It is a country that was targeted by a nuclear weapon during the World War II. American warplanes dropped the first nuclear bombs on two major Japanese cities killing tens of thousands of people and causing an incurable damage to the Japanese collective psyche. Despite all that, Japan nowadays is synonymous with success on all levels. Japanese wide-ranging exports to the entire world include automobiles, telecommunications equipment and power-generating machines. More importantly, Japanese human capital is the country's precious asset with hundreds of the younger students seeking studies in the West and coming back to Japan to continue building their country and lead its miraculous development. Notohara's book and the ideas it contains reflect a deep understanding of the Arab's modern history, at least from a political perspective. So it is no surprise that the book is apparently dedicated to the Arab's political predicament, particularly after numerous wars that some Arab countries fought to gain independence. In his 130-page book, Notohara speaks so openly about oppression, corruption and the political as well as social challenges that face Arabs. He also highlights some of his memories with prominent Arab thinkers, writers and novelists who have greatly influenced his understanding of the Arabian culture and history. The first issue the book raises is the oppression, which Notohara says, remains in the heart of the political practice in the Arab world nowadays. “Unlike the situation in Japan, fear of the uncertain future is widespread in the Arab world. With few exceptions, the ordinary man in the Arab World is paying the price of being oppressed for a long time.” He acknowledges that such fear is also found in Japan but because of totally different reasons. “In Japan, people are afraid of the natural catastrophes such as volcanoes, tornadoes and earthquakes. They are dreadful of a nuclear war in the region in which Japan would likely be targeted, particularly from North Korea.” But he added that, unlike the situation in the Arab world, any political oppression is unthinkable in Japan. He eloquently captures the long-standing problem of corruption in the Arab world through telling three different stories which vividly describe how power can be misused by certain influential individuals for private gains.” At the airport of an Arab capital, I was stopped by an official who instantly asked me for some money. I unhesitatingly offered him the money he requested to discover that it was not a fee, which should be paid anyway, but a routinely personal behavior carried out by office holders.” He concluded that corruption is everywhere but the only difference between a corruption incident in the Arab world and another one elsewhere is that corrupt people in the Arab world are not appropriately penalized for the illegal practices they do. The rule of law is also present in Notohara's analysis of the situation in the Arab world. Unlike what happens in Japan, the law is fabricated to protect those in power and their relatives. “Nobody in Japan is above the law. Tanaka Kakuei, the former Japanese prime minister, was convicted and therefore jailed after a major political scandal although he was a beloved political figure in Japan. But at the end, law prevails.” Throughout the rest of the book, Notohara addresses several other intriguing issues such as education, equality and other social challenges that face the Arabs, particularly the young generation. He elaborates on the plight of several young Arabs who are oppressed first at the hands of their parents, then by teachers at schools until oppression becomes a fact of their life. Notohara's book is worth reading and considering on all levels in the Arab world. With great reporting and cultural understanding, the book offers several constructive proposals to encourage policymakers in the region to pursue a serious process of cultural, educational and social reform. Such reform is compellingly needed if we want to face the wide-ranging challenges that face us all. – SG The writer can be reached at: [email protected] __
