Lesson from the home of Toyota and its monarchy

It sounds unbelievable that Japan, the home of Toyota, Sony, Canon, Nintendo, Komatsu, and other technology giants is the world’s oldest monarchy, since around 600 BC.

Though my name Iraki is common in Japan, I have never been “home.” The closest I have been to Japan is in China, whose folktales seem to suggest Japanese came from China. The Japanese monarchy came into the news lately after its emperor abdicated, the first time in two centuries.

The Japanese Parliament had to change the law to allow that, but only for this emperor. The new Emperor Naruhito and his wife Princess Masako are a modern couple. The prince went to Oxford while the princess went to Harvard. It is surprising that even in Japan, Western institutions are still the place to be among the elite. Much like in Kenya where car stickers with Western universities are common on parking lots

Does Japan have a monarchy? Does it make economic sense?

Should we revive Kenyan monarchies? Let us note that the monarchy in Japan holds no political power, much as in most other developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain or Denmark. In Japan, the power was whittled down by the pacifist constitution after the loss in second World War (WWII).

 Nationhood

The emperor also lost his deity status - as a condition for surrender in WWII. The Japanese emperor, despite all the modernity, is seen as a sign of continuity and nationhood. There is some national pride when a country talks of over 2000 years of continuity and nationhood. There is some national pride in a monarchy going through periods of turbulence like wars and surviving intact.

Such pride in history and continuity is one of the glues that hold the Japanese nation together.

It evokes patriotism too and a sense of belonging. With a deep anchor at home, both physical and emotional, the Japanese, just like Britons could leave the shores and explore the world.

After WW II, they shifted from military adventurism into trade and commerce. That is why Japanese brands are well known in our homes and on the roads.

That symbolism and sense of nationhood can’t be quantified or priced. Is that not what we are lacking in Kenya? What is the glue that holds Kenya today? Japanese can look back to 600BC, seen as the start of the current monarchy.

What can we look back into for inspiration and pride?  I have often suggested that to appear older and deepen our nation’s historical anchors, Kenya’s birthday should be July 1, 1895, when it became a British protectorate and got a semblance of a nation.

The historical episodes that would evoke national pride like Mau Mau have slowly faded into the mists of history. That could be the reason why even a new constitution has not been as effective as expected. It has no deep historical or emotional roots.

That is the other reason why China has done so well economically, it has deep historical roots that evoke national pride. That includes building the Great Wall and keeping off invaders.

Sessional papers

Since uhuru, we have come up with strategic initiatives that are geared into transforming our country. They include numerous Sessional papers, Vision 2030, 2010 constitution, Big 4 and am sure more will come.

All these initiatives lack historical, ideological and philosophical anchors. Something that emotionally attaches us to them.

Does that explain why they often fizzle off and citizens lack interest or enthusiasm?

Vision 2030 lacks historical and emotional inspiration.

What other visions did we ever have before as a nation?

Beyond ensuring we shall never have a president with so much power, what else inspired our demand for a new constitution? What is the historical or emotional driver in Big 4Agenda?

Why are we not saying that traditional medicine kept Africans alive for thousands of years?

Why are we not first praising the traditional houses we lived in through the ages? Why are we not praising the blacksmiths who made weapons for us?  What of traditional foods that kept off the diseases of development?

Jomo Kenyatta tried to anchor his regime on history by evoking the memories of colonialism.

Moi tried Nyayo while Kibaki and Uhuru philosophies have not been defined. The latter two are focused on economic transformation which needs some emotional, philosophical or historical anchor.

Could the lack of such be the reason why corruption is thriving and we feel adrift and detached?

Did Ugandan President realise the power of cultural and historical pride when he allowed the revival of Buganda and Toro kingdoms? I attended the inauguration of the Toro king in 2011.

Do not ask me which kingdom I represented. Without a monarchy as a symbol of continuity like Japanese, how do we create a sense of continuity, pride, and nationhood?

Economic focus is inadequate; it needs to be spiced up with a softer, emotional and assuring.

-The writer teaches at the University of Nairobi