“Hope for Change: The Future of Japan and Japanese Society”

RESPDOND TO STUDENTS POST (150 WORDS OR LESS)
STUDENTS POST:
I am generally an optimistic person and reserve skepticism for the idea that people are stuck in a box and cannot change. However, based on what we’ve learned in this course, I am not entirely optimistic that Japan (the government) can resolve its issues any time soon due to the reliance on traditions that are causing more harm than good.
The Japanese powers that be struggles to bring women into important conversations, decisions, and spaces. When half of a population is irrelevant, essential voices and abilities are cut off from joining the collective “pool of progress”. Further, the hard-line Japan has put down against accepting foreigners as essential to economic growth, or even as citizens, is another unnecessary roadblock toward progress (Wingfield-Hayes, 2023). In addition, the work culture has quite literally killed people from stress related diseases and made it extremely hard to dream of having a secure family. The snail’s pace at which the nation has made any progress out of their economic hole gives me an inkling into the seriousness of the situation as far as my negative outlook towards their future.
That being said, we know Japan has crawled out of impossible craters before with a drive and a focus that is admirable. If Japan can find that drive and a willingness to loosen its grip on harmful traditions, I believe they’ll dig their way out of these issues. Economic reports find that the country has shown progress and potential for 2024 (Kapron, 2024).
I truly hope that younger generations can turn things around for Japan. However, if they continue to avoid risk by avoiding change, the outlook is bleak.
Works Cited:
Kapron, Z. (2024, February 20). Japan’s stock market outlook is bullish for 2024. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zennonkapron/2024/01/04/japans-stock-market-outlook-is-bullish-for-2024/?sh=5b2d8ee974d0
Wingfield-Hayes, R. (2023, January 20). Japan was the future but it’s stuck in the past. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63830490
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ORGINAL POST FOR REFERENCE:
What is the future of Japan and Japanese Society?
For the final week of JAPN333, we think about the issues facing Japan today and what might happen be Japan’s future.  The Japanese people have faced critical turning points in their history in the past and succeeded in overcoming obstacles.  Does Japan today have the will and resolve to address and solve its problems?   Is the future of Japan positive or negative?  What are the positive signs?  What are the negative signs?
Click on “Start a New Thread” to respond to this topic.  After you post your response, please reply to at least TWO of your classmates.