Japan's international affairs

Japan's international political affairs seem quite parochial. North Korea, South Korea and China get into snits about various slights in ways they would never fuss with othercountries.

As some examples, everyone complains when Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine, where the war dead are entombed. Diplomatic letters fly across the sea from the neighbors and complaints are strongly made and relations are strained.

The North Korean spy ship that sunk in Chinese waters after being fired on by Japan on the high seas might be raised--if China smiles upon Japan and says yes. But North Korea is pissed off that Japan would dare accuse them of spying (though the US military confirmed that the ship started out from North Korea). Who will China support?

I don't recall the US's neighbors being so tetchy about things.