In tragedy, Japan impresses the world over...

Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation’s resilience wins wide praise.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalised landscape.

But coverage has also shown another side – Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Entries on the English-language blogosphere speak of the Japanese as “stoic” and wonder the reaction in Western countries would be to a disaster of similar magnitude.

Harvard University professor Joseph Nye said that the disaster may turn out to benefit Japan’s “soft power” – a term he coined to describe how nations achieve their goals by appearing more attractive to others.

“Though the tragedy is immense, this sad event shows some of the very attractive features of Japan, and thus may help their soft power,” Prof. Nye said.

“In addition to the sympathy it will engender, it shows a stable, well-mannered society that was as prepared for such a disaster as any modern country could be, and which is responding in a calm and orderly way,” he said.

Officially pacifist Japan has historically relied on aid as a key tool of foreign policy, but it is expected to reconsider at least some of the spending as it contends with a hefty reconstruction bill.

Even though Japan is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, Americans alone have donated more than $22 million since Friday’s 9.0-magnitude earthquake, according to a tally compiled from aid groups.

While nearly all nations enjoy sympathy at a human level when they experience tragedy, countries’ reputations rarely benefit as a result.

Pakistan received aid from the United States and other countries last year when it was submerged by major floods. But funding came slowly from individuals overseas with relief groups pointing to Pakistan’s image problems.

China and Haiti also faced criticism over government handling of earthquakes in 2008 and last year.

Some experts believed the earthquake could change the narrative about Japan to one of rebirth after years in which the country was identified with feeble economic growth, an aging population and revolving-door governments.

“The question was whether Japan was going to be able to deal with what’s necessary, to innovate and revive its economy,” said Nicholas Szechenyi, deputy director at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.