So the United States does seem to be vying for the position
of the antagonist, or at least the secondary position of backstage
string-puller. It’s hard to say how much of this frequently used plot device is
done out of convenience and how much it’s influenced by a more serious anxiety
regarding the USA’s role in Japanese affairs. Somewhat ironically, the larger
development of the JSDF’s invasion seems to mirror events in the NATO invasions
of Iraq and Afghanistan. After using superior technology to crush the defenders’
conventional forces, the invaders embark on a hearts and minds mission to win
the cooperation of the civilian population (There doesn’t seem to be an
insurgency to be fought here, though these are classic counter-terrorism
tactics.). In the meantime, regional powers threatened by the invasion seek to
manipulate events on the ground for their own ends.
