• Rupert Wingfield-Hayes’ farewell essay paints a picture of Japan as a stagnant and static society, but this is inaccurate.
• Japan has changed in important and visible ways, such as its built environment, fertility rate, immigration policy, and role of women in the workforce.
• Aging is a real problem, but Japan’s fertility rate is higher than any other developed country in its region.
• Immigration policy has changed substantially, with the number of foreign-born workers in Japan doubling in the first few years of Abe’s administration.
• The percentage of women in corporate management has increased from 11% to 15%.
• Japan’s choice not to tie middle-class wealth to housing prices is a smart one, as it has allowed for affordable housing and economic growth.
• Westerners should not essentialize Japan, as this will limit their ability to offer meaningful solutions to the country’s problems.
Published January 24, 2023
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