Editor's note: Wu Haojun is a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared in the Diet that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, she did more than provoke a diplomatic spat with China. She lifted the veil on the "two Japans." Her remarks, which explicitly link Tokyo's security to the Taiwan Straits, are a stark reflection of the reality hidden by decades of "soft power" diplomacy.  

This newfound strategic clarity is underpinned by material action. The Takaichi cabinet has accelerated the defense budget to reach 2 percent of GDP in the current fiscal year, two years ahead of the original schedule. Furthermore, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is pushing to dismantle the last major restrictions on exporting lethal defense equipment, effectively transforming Japan's defense industry from a domestic supplier into a global arms dealer.  

This shift, from a constitutionally pacifist nation obsessed with cute mascots and gentle hospitality to an assertive, re-arming regional power, is not a contradiction. It is a functional paradox.

'Honne' and 'Tatemae': The dual reality

For decades, the global image of Japan has been its "Tatemae," a Japanese term referring to outward behaviors–the public, universally appealing face of technological sophistication, polite service and soft-power exports like anime and manga. This "pink mask" of kawaii culture was a brilliant post-war foreign policy strategy, successfully rebranding the nation from a brutal aggressor to a producer of non-threatening consumer fantasy.

But beneath this amiable facade is the "Honne," a Japanese term referring to one's true feelings–the true, structural reality of a deeply conservative, insular and increasingly anxious ethno-nationalist state.

The foreign policy "Honne" is what Takaichi represents. It views the pacifist Article 9 of the Constitution as a historical embarrassment and seeks to restore the pride and military self-determination lost in 1945.

The domestic "Honne" is fueled by growing anti-foreigner sentiment and the increasing electoral power of explicitly nationalist factions, such as the newly successful Sanseito party. They champion a return to "true" Japanese values, viewing necessary foreign labor as a contamination of their unique cultural identity.

The rise of anti-tourism and anti-foreigner sentiment

For years, Japan enjoyed the global reputation of being a dream destination – safe, clean, polite and welcoming. But beneath that perception, frustration toward foreigners has steadily grown, especially in densely visited areas like Kyoto, Osaka and parts of Tokyo. The post-pandemic tourism boom reignited old tensions: complaints about foreign tourists' behavior, calls for restrictions on short-term rentals and proposals to limit access to famous sites.

This trend is not an isolated cultural mood; it is part of the same tightening of identity that fuels nationalist politics. A country that once built an international brand on welcoming friendliness now sees segments of society demanding psychological – and sometimes literal – distance from outsiders. In this environment, foreign labor is both necessary to sustain the economy and resented as a cultural intrusion. Tourists bring revenue, yet their presence is increasingly framed as a nuisance or a contamination of local life.

This rising anti-foreign sentiment is not separate from Japan's strategic turn – it runs parallel to it. A nation becoming more inward-looking at home is becoming more militarily emboldened abroad.

The shield of cuteness

The tension between the above-mentioned two realities is resolved by the "pink mask" itself. The global audience, charmed and disarmed by the vast cultural outputs of Japan, grants the country an affective shield – a psychological benefit of the doubt that few other nations receive. It is easier for the world to believe that Japan's rising defense budget is purely "defensive" and "normalizing" when its cultural ambassadors are Hello Kitty and Studio Ghibli, not military uniforms and rhetoric.

At the same time, this soft-power halo shapes how foreign media, especially Western media, interpret Japan's behavior. Kawaii culture functions as an emotional buffer, muting the alarm that might otherwise accompany Japan's rearmament. Such a phenomena reflects how deeply Japan's cultural exports have conditioned global audiences to see the country as fundamentally gentle – even when its policies are no longer.

However, the recent aggressive foreign policy push, the accelerated militarization and the willingness of leaders like Takaichi to openly challenge the status quo have stretched the "pink mask" thinner than ever before.

Recent developments have forced the world to look past the "Tatemae" and recognize the hardening edge of the "Honne." The question now is whether the world will continue to be entertained by the culture while ignoring the politics, or whether Japan's strategic pivot has finally stripped the mask away completely.

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