While historical frustration often shapes the narratives that fuel nationalism, there are clearly deeper and more powerful forces at work. One of Japan’s persistent problems in recent years has been growing disenchantment with the political class and its inability to articulate a vision for the country’s future.
虽然历史的沮丧感经常会塑造那些鼓动民族主义的叙事，但很显然有更深层次也更强大的力量在起作用。近年困扰日本的其中一个顽疾就是人们对本国政治阶层的认识越来越清醒，也逐渐明白后者无法为国家的未来构筑一幅图景。许多年轻日本人疏远了本国政治。虽然这种现象并不仅限于日本，但政治精英阶层的狭隘性确实令该国所面临的问题比其他地方更加尖锐。