The Myth of Japan's Failure

[Coligny]

The scariest part of the situation for me is the number of jobs in the financial sector that are simply not here. If that is your field and you're out of work, seems any job interview you go to will ask if you can relocate to HK or Singapore. There's also a decent chance any job you have will ask you the same. That's always a great sign.

A bit like if you want to mine uranium you have to move to australia...

I don't really see the problem here...

[matsuki]

[Greji]

whose Tokyo correspondent was this bloke....

Damn, Hair. Read ole Ben's profile. It'll give you an instant stiffy. I would note that it has changed a bit since the last time I saw it.

[Coligny]

Damn, Hair. Read ole Ben's profile. It'll give you an instant stiffy. I would note that it has changed a bit since the last time I saw it.

Dood, you'd get a stiffy reading the brand on a washing masheen... you'ze ~~hardly~~ a reference for this... Go back making violent videogames for those modern electric anicamated daguerreotypes they give to childrun these day when they work good at the mine.

[Mike Oxlong]

[matsuki]

[gaijinpunch]

He does, but this doesn't quite work for me.

... Japan has accomplished selective change. The most drastic example came with the Meiji Restoration that began in 1868. The forced opening of ports by Commodore Perry in 1853-54

It's selective change, but Japan didn't select it.

Again, after World War II, Japan made drastic selective changes, abandoning its military tradition

Again, forced.

I really only see 3 (maybe 2) things making Japan change.

1: Touhoku-sized disaster hits Tokyo. This will throw the world into recession if not depression. They can't handle the rebuilding alone, and like post-war, Japan will see an influx of western influence. It could very well be negligible though.

2: War, as pointed out by a friend. But, this is pretty unlikely at this point.

3: Extra credit: Simply hitting rock bottom. Ever seen a crack head finally hit rock bottom? The metamorphosis is amazing. However, how far down rock bottom is is relative, and I dare say, a long way off. The cuntry can float on savings for a while, and the common denominator is so oblivious to his surroundings here, nobody would pick up on how dire the situation is until it's too late.

Who knows, old farts retire, young people come up the ladder. Maybe the problem will just fix itself. I doubt it though.

One thing that the author (actually his J-friends) hit on the head, is the stubborness when it comes to "sticking to culture". "It's in our culture" is such a fucking cop out. Doing something b/c the generation (which is less-educated by definition) did it? Shit, whipping slaves was in my culture, and at some point later down the road, shooting someone in the local saloon was too. Doesn't mean I advocate it now.

[matsuki]

He does, but this doesn't quite work for me.



It's selective change, but Japan didn't select it.



Again, forced.

I really only see 3 (maybe 2) things making Japan change.

1: Touhoku-sized disaster hits Tokyo. This will throw the world into recession if not depression. They can't handle the rebuilding alone, and like post-war, Japan will see an influx of western influence. It could very well be negligible though.

2: War, as pointed out by a friend. But, this is pretty unlikely at this point.

3: Extra credit: Simply hitting rock bottom. Ever seen a crack head finally hit rock bottom? The metamorphosis is amazing. However, how far down rock bottom is is relative, and I dare say, a long way off. The cuntry can float on savings for a while, and the common denominator is so oblivious to his surroundings here, nobody would pick up on how dire the situation is until it's too late.

Who knows, old farts retire, young people come up the ladder. Maybe the problem will just fix itself. I doubt it though.

Agreed

One thing that the author (actually his J-friends) hit on the head, is the stubborness when it comes to "sticking to culture". "It's in our culture" is such a fucking cop out. Doing something b/c the generation (which is less-educated by definition) did it? Shit, whipping slaves was in my culture, and at some point later down the road, shooting someone in the local saloon was too. Doesn't mean I advocate it now.

haha, when all else fails, I almost always hear the excuse "Japaneeeeze stairu." when we all know the real Japanese style can be summed up by our favorite phrase "Shoganai"

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Japan hasn't failed. It rebuilt and played catch-up over a 40-year period (all the while under the wing of an empire that turned a blind eye to its less than fair methods because it served that empire's purposes), burst forth for about five years when it batted way over its average, and has since spent the subsequent couple of decades burning through what it made in the good days and what it can get away with on credit.
Japan nowadays is merely returning to its historically normal position as a leading player in East Asia but second-rate global power.

[Greji]

(all the while under the wing of an empire that turned a blind eye to its less than fair methods because it served that empire's purposes)

Ahh, are you referring to the Empire of New South Wales?

[IparryU]

He does, but this doesn't quite work for me.



It's selective change, but Japan didn't select it.



Again, forced.

I really only see 3 (maybe 2) things making Japan change.

1: Touhoku-sized disaster hits Tokyo. This will throw the world into recession if not depression. They can't handle the rebuilding alone, and like post-war, Japan will see an influx of western influence. It could very well be negligible though.

2: War, as pointed out by a friend. But, this is pretty unlikely at this point.

3: Extra credit: Simply hitting rock bottom. Ever seen a crack head finally hit rock bottom? The metamorphosis is amazing. However, how far down rock bottom is is relative, and I dare say, a long way off. The cuntry can float on savings for a while, and the common denominator is so oblivious to his surroundings here, nobody would pick up on how dire the situation is until it's too late.

Who knows, old farts retire, young people come up the ladder. Maybe the problem will just fix itself. I doubt it though.

One thing that the author (actually his J-friends) hit on the head, is the stubborness when it comes to "sticking to culture". "It's in our culture" is such a fucking cop out. Doing something b/c the generation (which is less-educated by definition) did it? Shit, whipping slaves was in my culture, and at some point later down the road, shooting someone in the local saloon was too. Doesn't mean I advocate it now.

I would say that number 1 wont change shit by itself, osaka would also need to get fucked up to in order for japan to be in a state like number 3.

I would also include (most probable) that when the majority of the population dies (we'll miss you Greji!) the old style thinking, attitude towards immigration, and women's rights will change.

There would also need to be a large investment into the police force and outside training... In times of big change there is always commotion. As of now, the only thing the police could do in a fucked situation is call up the yaks, pay them to "calm" the situation, and then rely on the yaks to do all the work... which would eventually lead to the yaks coming into power (again or remain?).

But if this cuntry goes to number 3, I would like to see big brother USA come in and straighten shit out. sorta like the Dane Cook skit on japan... need to youtube that...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Ahh, are you referring to the Empire of New South Wales?

Not those fucking Philistines...mind you, they'd be better than our Deep North.

[Buraku]

Japan ranks record low 29th for global digital competitiveness
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022 ... eness.html

[matsuki]

Japan ranks record low 29th for global digital competitiveness
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022 ... eness.html

Not improving anytime soon...

[Coligny]

And it’s actually a good thing…