How do the Japanese identify themselves and how do these identities shape Japanese politics?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Japan is a relatively homogenous society in comparative perspective; it lacks the
religious, racial, ethnic, or economic class cleavages that exist in many countries. This high
degree of socio-cultural homogeneity made it difficult to form a political opposition to the
LDP. In Japan, status—usually derived from one's age or length of service within a
hierarchy—plays an important part in shaping political identity. However, this emphasis
on seniority status in Japan did not provide a division that challengers to the ruling party
could use to their advantage, and even helped maintain LDP dominance.
In many ways, Japan is extremely homogeneous. About 95 percent of the population is
ethnically Japanese, nearly everyone speaks Japanese, and religion is not a major
cleavage—only about 1 percent of Japanese are Christian. Most of the population is
Buddhist, Shinto, or both. Shinto is Japan's indigenous religion, involving informal prayer
to multiple gods at tiny shrines, and focusing on the preservation of purity and life in
human society and nature. Growing out of the country's homogeneity, many Japanese
rightfully take pride in many unique aspects of Japanese heritage and culture—but some
leaders stretch this view to absurd lengths. Japan is not a classless society but class
divisions are less important than in some other wealthy democracies, such as England or
Germany. Relationships based on some sort of hierarchy within society have long played
an important role in shaping Japanese society and politics. Women in Japan continue to
confront obstacles to social, political, and economic advancement as individuals.
Japan's homogeneity and the lack of emphasis in Japan on divisions based on things such
as class, ethnicity, and gender have left few openings for opposition parties to undercut
the LDP's base of support or to develop a new challenge to the long-time ruling party.
And Japan's emphasis on status—status that most people can achieve if they persevere
long enough—provides incentives for many people to support the status quo, something
that only served to help maintain LDP dominance. That being said, in a society of great
homogeneity, other types of divisions—based on things such as political interests—may
be more likely to become key issues that can underpin the workings of a party system.