Dreaming back to 1949, the great powers were there to deceive us

There's a joke online that says Japanese people sometimes eat ramen (or plain noodles) as a side dish alongside their rice. This joke is a satire on the US's flour invasion of Japan.

Putting aside the issue of eating habits, this joke actually has some rationality.

Since its defeat in the war, Japan has been unable to take care of itself, and the United States controls all aspects of its economy, especially in the food sector.

Let's first look at two sets of data. Japan's food self-sufficiency rate in 2023, based on calories, was 38%, and its self-sufficiency rate, based on production value, was 61%.

Many people may not understand these two terms. The food self-sufficiency rate based on calories refers to the ratio of calories contributed by domestically produced food to the total calories consumed throughout the year.

The self-sufficiency rate based on production value refers to the ratio of the value of domestically produced grain to the total value of grain consumed throughout the year.

Personally, I think it is more scientific to measure it by calories, because Japan is practicing agricultural protection. For example, the price of Wagyu beef is sky-high. You can buy five kilograms of beef from other countries with the price of one kilogram of Wagyu beef. Can you say that eating a piece of Wagyu beef will keep you from being hungry for three days?

Although Japan's food asset ratio is very low, it does not mean that they are willing to have the United States put a rope around their necks.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Japan's solution is overseas colonization.

As of June 2017, Japan's overseas military farms reached 6 million hectares, roughly three times the area of ​​farmland in Japan.

This is not enough. In order to ensure food security, Japan has cooperated with multiple countries to reduce its dependence on a single country.

So overall, the series of food control policies adopted by the United States against Japan after the war have become less effective over time.

But this did not prevent Hu Zhenhua, the big liar, from giving Carter bad advice.

"Carter, I believe the United States has an obligation to help Japan change its eating habits. Their food self-sufficiency rate is too low. If the people only eat rice, at least half of them will starve to death!"

Carter was a little confused and didn't understand what this meant, so he asked,

"When they're hungry, they'll naturally eat something else. Do we need to change that?"

Lao Hu slapped his thigh and shouted,

"Of course they need to! Changing their diet is for the sake of Japan's long-term stability. Right now, they have no choice but to eat whatever they can get. If they become wealthy in the future, will they import large quantities of rice from Southeast Asia? Then, who will the United States sell its flour to?"

The last sentence made Carter realize that this was about controlling Japan's food supply.

Although Carter is to be appointed deputy ambassador, the final order has not yet come down and everything is still uncertain.

If he submits a policy guideline with food as the main focus to the country, then this position will be secure!

Carter's eyes became hot. He grabbed Hu Zhenhua's hand and asked warmly,

"How to do it exactly?"

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Hu Zhenhua laughed.

"Remember the first sip of milk theory? The United States can use the name of caring for elementary and middle school students to provide them with nutritious meals, with bread and milk being the main foods. Children are the future of the country. As long as their tastes change, there won't be any worries about flour sales in the future!"

Japan is an island country with very low wheat and milk production, and can only rely heavily on imports.

The reason why Hu Zhenhua proposed the bread and milk plan now is because TA Grain and Oil has already completed its layout in Japan. If this plan is implemented now, TA company will be the biggest beneficiary.

Carter thought it was very reasonable. He rubbed his sore thigh and didn't bother with Lao Hu. He smiled and said,

"Are there any other options?"

"Of course. To ensure the smooth progress of the plan, we can promote it extensively, saying that milk bread is the most nutritious. Look at Westerners; it's because they've been eating milk bread for years that they're so tall, strong, and intelligent! After Japan's defeat, hasn't it been diligently learning from the West? We should help them achieve their goals! We can also hire some scholars to say that eating rice is unhealthy!"

These two tricks have been used by Americans before. Even if Lao Hu doesn't mention them, they will appear in a few years.

In that case, let’s intercept it first.

Hu Zhenhua thought for a moment and continued,

"Now that we have the staple food problem solved, let's talk about meat. American Landrace and Large White pigs have a short growth cycle and produce a lot of meat. We can introduce them to Japan in large quantities. If we can produce 1 million pigs per year, just imagine how much corn we'll need!"

The invasion of these two types of pigs caused the extinction of a large number of native pig breeds in Japan.

In fact, the same is true in my country, and a large number of native pig breeds have also disappeared in the long river of history.

When facing the invasion of a strong culture, it is difficult to defend against it, but there is one thing about Chinese culture that other civilizations cannot match, and that is inclusiveness. Many good things become ours as they invade, and are then exported back in the process of communication. For example, fantasy online novels fascinate foreign readers who come into contact with them!

Carter stared at Hu Zhenhua and smiled meaningfully.

"Hu, you have great hostility towards Japan."

Hu Zhenhua waved his hand.

"No no no no! The war is over. Although I have no good feelings towards those beasts, I will not retaliate against them. Let's be business-minded. The milk and bread project can bring them a generous return on their grain and oil!"

"Is that true?"

"Believe it or not! Carter, your grain and oil shareholders are quite impressive. If you implement the Bread and Milk Plan, you'll gain widespread public support! Imagine the prospect of having the financial consortium, American farmers, and grain traders backing you. Need I say more?"

Carter swallowed his saliva and quickly expressed his opinion.

"This plan is beneficial to both the United States and Japan. There is no reason for me not to support it!"

Hu Zhenhua's arrows were trapped, and he was in a good mood.

"Carter, I have a feeling you might end up in the White House someday!"

Carter was attracted by this beautiful vision. He lost the rationality of a politician and became dazed.

Hu Zhenhua pinched his chin and thought about it. It seemed that in later generations, there was a guy named Carter who took over the White House. Could it be the guy in front of him?

If so, that would be a lot of fun.

……