The title refers to the authors' vision—Ishihara's in particular—of aJapanese government that is more than a mere "yes man" to the United States. Many unauthorized translations were made and circulated in the United States. The authorized 1991Simon & Schuster English translation by Frank Baldwin (out of print) did not include the essays by Morita.The book caused widespread controversy in the United States, and Morita distanced himself from the book.[3] The book also inspired the similarly themedChina Can Say No, a collection of essays published in 1996.[4]
The work alternates between essays written by Ishihara and Morita. The essays were based on various speeches given in the past. In general, Ishihara's essays argue that Japan is a world power to be respected, and that Japanese need to assert themselves more when dealing with the U.S. Morita's essays focus more on the tragic flaws of U.S. companies that will eventually lead toAmerica's decline, and what Japan can do to improve its image and position.
The world has come to depend on Japanese technology, especially insemiconductor production.
Japan must use its technological superiority as a negotiating weapon. It should even threaten to trade secrets with theSoviet Union as a bargaining tool against the US and refuse to sell components that go into US missiles.
The quality of American goods is low because the level of the workers is low, while the superioreducation of Japanese workers is a big advantage.
TheJapanese character is innately superior to the character of Americans.
Japanese diplomats are not effective in dealing with westerners, so businessmen accustomed to dealing with foreigners should also take part in trade negotiations.
Japan should end theU.S.-Japan security pact and defend itself, because this would cost less and end reliance on the U.S.
Americans believe that theCaucasian race is superior since the modern era is dominated by thewestern world, and this prejudice will hurt them in the end.
It is popular to bash Japan, and this is largely the fault of Japanese businessmen overseas who don't socialize with locals and become part of the local community.
Japanese need to do more to adapt toWestern culture and language when dealing with Americans in order to be understood (pointing out that foreigners from other countries have successfully integrated into U.S. society).
The U.S.'s failure to recognize Japan's importance will hurt the U.S. and theworld economy.
Japan must be conscious of its role as a world leader, and do its part to support the world economy.
Japan must help build upAsia to strengthen its position as a regional economic leader.
Japan must give moreforeign aid if it wants to be a true world leader. He equates this with doing localcommunity service.
Daniel W. Drezner ofForeign Policy ranked the book as one of the ten worst books about foreign policy, writing "Shintaro argued that Japan was destined to become the next great superpower. Whoops."[5]
A similar criticism appeared in a March 1990 newspaper, presenting a cartoon of Mount Fuji, symbolic of Japan and its purity, facing an overbearing and militaristic American soldier. Mount Fuji is shown saying "Japan cannot say no," raising the question of whether the postwar period is really over, and suggesting that Japan wants to begin to fend for itself after depending on the US for support during the postwar years.[6]
