A little over a half-century ago, Japan and the United States were sworn enemies. The viciousness of war was displayed and experienced by both sides, with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima only the most obvious and emblematic events of brutally and vehemently fought World War II.

Fast-forward 60 years and it’s remarkable to think that the two countries ever tried to destroy each other. We could only be so bold as to hope that 60 years from now the U.S. and Iraq will enjoy a similarly productive, close, and mutually beneficial relationship. Today, the fate and fortune of Japan and the U.S. are largely intertwined and dependent on each other. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan plants in the U.S. provide good jobs to tens of thousands of Americans. On the other hand, many of the most intricate and expensive components of U.S. electronic devices such as Apple’s ubiquitous iPod are manufactured by Japanese giants like Toshiba. The U.S. exports food, machinery, beverages, and services (among many other products) to Japan in large volumes. The explosion of McDonald’s and Starbucks in Japan mirrors somewhat in time and scope the booming popularity of sushi and sake in the States over the last couple decades. Manga and anime have enjoyed several years of impressive success here in America. There are still large cultural and linguistic barriers, and much more striking differences are found in politics and in ways of thinking. However, the strides the countries have made toward today’s strong and influential alliance is nothing less than astonishing. The alliance’s actual progress and successes should be acknowledged. In addition, such potential for bilateral cooperation and leadership on the world stage in regards to green technology should not be overlooked.

The U.S. and Japan have, respectively, the biggest and second biggest economies in the world. They have an enormous stake in how the world reacts and revamps itself from this financial and economic tsunami. They also wield considerable clout in determining the future of the market economy and the future direction of environmental policy. The current economic downturn is an opportunity to reach agreement and work together with sensible and concrete action that will set the stage for a green tech expansion. Successfully doing so will help cemented the U.S. – Japan partnership as an effective, positive, and powerful force for good.

(more to come in Part 2)

- Justin Manger