Comments on: Japan: Apparently the only island nation on Earth http://www.kotodama.net/blog/2009/10/886/ A photo blog Sun, 23 May 2010 15:57:01 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jeremy http://www.kotodama.net/blog/2009/10/886/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Jeremy Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:23:28 +0000 http://www.kotodama.net/blog/?p=886#comment-408 Australia! Australia!

]]> By: Jeffrey Friedl http://www.kotodama.net/blog/2009/10/886/comment-page-1/#comment-407 Jeffrey Friedl Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:07:41 +0000 http://www.kotodama.net/blog/?p=886#comment-407 I don't doubt that "island nation" is often an excuse for not using one's brain, but I would suspect that it has been used correctly at some time during the course of history, yet that use would not necessarily apply to all (or even any other) island societies. The ramifications on each society due to its "islandness" certainly differ from place to place, and from time to time, and so it seems not unreasonable to attribute something specific to one society as having been promoted due to the society's long history of isolation. Also, there's something to be said for Japan's long, continuous, late-lasting "islandness". Britain is an island, yes, but had extensive interaction with much of the world for thousands of years (it had a long history even when the Romans visited in 47). Japan had interaction with China, but dramatically less. In the sense that "island" refers to "isolated", Japan is rather unique in the length, depth, and purity of its isolation. I have no comment one way or the other about the specific example you cite, but I think "island nation" is not wholly without merit in every situation. I don’t doubt that “island nation” is often an excuse for not using one’s brain, but I would suspect that it has been used correctly at some time during the course of history, yet that use would not necessarily apply to all (or even any other) island societies. The ramifications on each society due to its “islandness” certainly differ from place to place, and from time to time, and so it seems not unreasonable to attribute something specific to one society as having been promoted due to the society’s long history of isolation.

Also, there’s something to be said for Japan’s long, continuous, late-lasting “islandness”. Britain is an island, yes, but had extensive interaction with much of the world for thousands of years (it had a long history even when the Romans visited in 47). Japan had interaction with China, but dramatically less. In the sense that “island” refers to “isolated”, Japan is rather unique in the length, depth, and purity of its isolation.

I have no comment one way or the other about the specific example you cite, but I think “island nation” is not wholly without merit in every situation.

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