The upcoming visit of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to Japan later this month carries great symbolic and strategic significance.
He is no stranger to the Japanese government or its society. Over the decades, he has built close relationships across Japan’s political establishment, academia, media, business, and civil society. His name enjoys deep familiarity and respect in Japan, almost akin to that of a household figure.
If memory serves, the Japanese government was among the early international supporters of the Grameen Foundation, extending substantial financial assistance during its formative years. During my tenure as Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan (2006–2010), I had the opportunity to observe firsthand Dr Yunus’s exceptional rapport with the Japanese people.
His visit to Tokyo in July 2007, following his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2006, was nothing short of a sensation. I vividly recall receiving him at Narita Airport, where he was met by an adoring crowd eager to shake his hand or take a photograph. His popularity was palpable, his stature near-celebrity.
Now, as the chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Dr Yunus’s first visit to Tokyo in this new role is expected to inject renewed momentum into bilateral ties.
With Japan being one of Bangladesh’s most trusted development partners -- motivated solely by the desire to see our country develop and prosper -- there is every reason to believe that this visit will open new avenues for cooperation.
From defense to investment, and from education to high-end technology, the possibilities are vast.
Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is home to several capable officers with service experience in Japan, and they will surely offer valuable input in shaping this evolving relationship.
During my years in Japan, I developed a deep admiration for its civilization, history, and values. In its unbroken historical continuum of over 5,000 years, Japan has witnessed periods of feudalism, imperial ambition, catastrophic defeat, and miraculous reconstruction. Among these transformative epochs, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 stands as a monumental turning point in modern history.
In July 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy arrived in Tokyo Bay with four steam-powered “black ships,” with mounted heavy guns and 400 soldiers , effectively defying Japan’s longstanding ban on foreign vessels.
Although he did not fire a shot, the display of military might coerced the Tokugawa Shogunate to open Japan’s ports to American trade. The incident humiliated the Japanese elite and ignited public outrage, particularly among the samurai class.
This ferment led to the eventual overthrow of the Shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule under the 17-year-old Emperor Mutsuhito, later known as Emperor Meiji. The rallying cry of the revolution was: “Revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians.”
Once in power, Emperor Meiji and his advisers wasted no time in launching a national transformation. With Asia succumbing to colonial domination, Japan resisted subjugation and instead became a modern power on par with the West.
A systematic strategy was adopted: The most talented young minds were sent abroad to learn from universities in the United States, Britain, Germany, and France. Upon their return, they were deployed across sectors to modernize the nation.
Simultaneously, far-reaching reforms reshaped Japan’s political, economic, educational, technological, and military institutions. This was Japan’s renaissance -- an awakening that propelled it to military victories over China in 1894 and Russia in 1905, astonishing the world.
As Japan’s Meiji era teaches us, great nations rise not merely on the backs of brave individuals, but on the power of collective vision, discipline, and reform
Japan’s meteoric rise, however, came to a halt with its crushing defeat in World War II. The twin atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, along with a total military surrender, plunged the nation into despair.
Under American occupation until 1953, Japan was guided through a new constitution, with General Douglas MacArthur curtailing imperial powers and introducing Article 9, which renounced war as a tool of foreign policy.
The trauma of war forced Japan to reimagine its national destiny. Amidst ruin, starvation, and national humiliation, the people chose to rebuild -- not through vengeance, but through relentless discipline, humility, and unity.
Within a decade, Japan emerged as an economic miracle and a net donor to developing nations. Its recovery speaks not just to the industrious character of its people, but to the galvanizing power of a national cause -- and an existential drive to survive and thrive.
Bangladesh, too, has shown remarkable patriotism in times of crisis -- most notably during the War of Liberation in 1971 and recently during July-August 2024 Revolution. The collective energy of our people remains vibrant, albeit dormant. What we need is visionary leadership to unlock this latent potential.
Dr Yunus is perhaps one of the most well-informed and engaged figures in Bangladesh-Japan relations. Beyond the talking points of the foreign ministry, he brings his own deep insight and long-standing connections.
Encouragingly, he already seems to be adopting elements of the Japanese approach to nation-building. One of the most notable examples is his recruitment of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) -- talented individuals from around the globe -- who have returned home to serve without fear or favour.
Their contributions have been effective and exemplary, and the environment today is uniquely conducive for more of them to participate in nation-building without political interference.
That said, the success of the interim government’s reform agenda will require more than good intentions. Political cooperation is crucial. Leaders of major parties must extend their support to this transitional phase, enabling critical reforms to take root.
Politics ultimately serves the goal of governance. Elections will come -- sooner or later -- and political parties will return to power. But now, when the nation stands at a critical crossroads, we have an opportunity to lay the foundations for lasting institutional reform.
To that end, it may be worth considering the reconstitution of the interim government into a broader-based national unity cabinet -- bringing in key political figures across the spectrum. Such a coalition could inject the unity and collective ownership that the nation desperately needs.
As Japan’s Meiji era teaches us, great nations rise not merely on the backs of brave individuals, but on the power of collective vision, discipline, and reform. The Yunus-led interim government has a historic chance to script such a transformation for Bangladesh.
Ashraf Ud Doula is a former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan.
