Japan's Future -- Fucked

[FG Lurker]

Japan's ageing workforce: built to last
Nick Mackie (BBC), January 23, 2005

[...] By 2007, Japan's population is expected to peak at 127 million, then shrink to under 100 million by the middle of the century. This means 30 million fewer workers at a time when the number of elderly will have almost doubled.

"In the year 2050, if the birth rate remains the same people over 60 will make up over 30% of the population," explains Shigeo Morioka of the International Longevity Centre in Tokyo.

[...]

After a decade of economic stagnation and huge deficit spending, the public sector debt is already about 140% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the highest rate among industrialised countries.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that as the falling birth rate takes grip from 2010, the cost of running Japan's welfare state will double to more than 5% of GDP, while current account balances will deteriorate by over 2%.

But unfortunately, Japan appears poorly prepared both financially and politically.

[...]

Come 2020, Japan could be more dependent on a shrinking workforce than any other industrialised power. There are fears that the world's number two economy is doomed to a permanent recession.

(Full Story)

The piece started out as something about old farts in Japan, but quickly moved on to Japan's future. Succinctly, Japan's fucked.

[Maths Dude]

Japan will only be 'fucked' if they let massive waves of immigrants into the country. It will destroy the fabric of society and turn it into something akin to the 'wests' moral and spiritual waste land.

The Japanese are smart enough to figure out a way to solve this problem without letting large packs of foreigners fuck it up. As far as I see the moronic economists simply believe that a human is merely a consumer, and that all our task is to cosume goods. This is a western invention. Asia, the middle east and africa did not invent this notion consumerism. Simply, all Japan has to do is increase thier consumption Tax. Make it 20%, 30%, or 50%, so what if it is so high? I certainly would not mind paying so much to help the sick and the old. Only selfish people think only of their hip pocket . So what if Japan will not be able to produce the staggering amount of goods it once made? Why not gear back and lead a less busy life - it will give the Japanese more time to study themselves, go hiking in the wonderful mountains, get into the arts, enjoy spending time with thier families. Japan should not listen the idiotic economists, they have no idea at all about humanity.

[Andocrates]

Dude, you're rambling.

[Maths Dude]

Good come back.

[mr. sparkle]

Isn't wasteland a single word?

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

T.S. Eliot

[Andocrates]

Did you just get a Bob Dylan collection, per chance? Here are some of my fav's from Sweetheart Like You.

In order to deal in this game, got to make the queen disappear,
It's done with a flick of the wrist.

They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.

You could be known as the most beautiful woman
Who ever crawled across cut glass to make a deal.

[FG Lurker]

Japan will only be 'fucked' if they let massive waves of immigrants into the country. It will destroy the fabric of society and turn it into something akin to the 'wests' moral and spiritual waste land.

You'll be an immigrant here when you arrive. Should they send you home? Or only people you somehow consider "less desirable" than yourself? Japan's not fucked yet, but I'd say you are.

The Japanese are smart enough to figure out a way to solve this problem without letting large packs of foreigners fuck it up.

As far as I see the moronic economists simply believe that a human is merely a consumer, and that all our task is to cosume goods. This is a western invention. Asia, the middle east and africa did not invent this notion consumerism.

Asia was trading actively when Western Europe was still stuck in the dark ages. The middle east also has an extremely trade-oriented history.

Simply, all Japan has to do is increase thier consumption Tax. Make it 20%, 30%, or 50%, so what if it is so high? I certainly would not mind paying so much to help the sick and the old. Only selfish people think only of their hip pocket .

Ah yes, higher taxes. The answer to everything. And certainly a lot better than letting in pesky foreigners to "fuck up" the country.

So what if Japan will not be able to produce the staggering amount of goods it once made? Why not gear back and lead a less busy life - it will give the Japanese more time to study themselves, go hiking in the wonderful mountains, get into the arts, enjoy spending time with thier families.

Your idea of an idyllic life is not shared by many Japanese. I hope you're not going to become one of the "pushy-bastard" gaijin who think they need to change everything about Japan.

Japan should not listen the idiotic economists, they have no idea at all about humanity.

Perhaps that is true. But you have no idea at all about Japan.

[DJEB]

So what if Japan will not be able to produce the staggering amount of goods it once made? Why not gear back and lead a less busy life - it will give the Japanese more time to study themselves, go hiking in the wonderful mountains, get into the arts, enjoy spending time with thier families.

Your idea of an idyllic life is not shared by many Japanese. I hope you're not going to become one of the "pushy-bastard" gaijin who think they need to change everything about Japan.

At some point there will be change, like it or not. The ecological footprint of most people in Japan, myself included, is not sustainable.

[FG Lurker]

So what if Japan will not be able to produce the staggering amount of goods it once made? Why not gear back and lead a less busy life - it will give the Japanese more time to study themselves, go hiking in the wonderful mountains, get into the arts, enjoy spending time with thier families.

Your idea of an idyllic life is not shared by many Japanese. I hope you're not going to become one of the "pushy-bastard" gaijin who think they need to change everything about Japan.

At some point there will be change, like it or not. The ecological footprint of most people in Japan, myself included, is not sustainable.

Sure, but this is not going to happen because some pushy gaijin thinks everyone should live on farms and go hiking in the mountains.

The eocological footprint of people in most western countries (especially in cities) isn't sustainable either...

[Andocrates]

Wow, you really got me hyped up to see that.

[Captain Japan]

Speaking of Dylan, parts of The Walkmen's "Bows and Arrows" has the singer sounding just like Dylan. Just got that. Good stuff.

[cstaylor]

As far as I see the moronic economists simply believe that a human is merely a consumer, and that all our task is to cosume goods. This is a western invention. Asia, the middle east and africa did not invent this notion consumerism.

Allow me to make some changes:

Western economists simply believe that a human is merely a consumer who seeks products at the lowest available price, regardless of quality, and that all our task is to consume inexpensive, disposablegoods. This is a western invention. Asia, the middle east and africa did not invent this notion of self-destructiveconsumerism.

I agree with the revisions. The West in general and the United States in particular made a horrible choice by taking the path of lowest price goods versus quality goods. The Walmarts and Targets have reduced American consumption to choosing one ugly pastel colored mug from another.

[goldenboy_ge]

Japan is fucked anyway. Besides the shrinking population, there are tons of other problems.

Japan is among with the USA the biggest credit holder in the G7 (7 industry countries: Japan, Germany, USA, UK, Canada, Italy and France), which means Japan ranks on top with the highest debt. USA, thanks to it's war streak it has a huge deficit hole. And Germany, over 6-9 million jobless people it ranks on top. The G7 "rich club" is held by loosers, only the UK and Canada make a good impression.

Nippon already lost important key positions in Asia during the 90s to 2000 due to a massive competition in the IT, electronic and other branches around Asia. Many Japanese firms aim to incorporate with Korean, Taiwanese etc firms. The time of challenges and competitions are over. Japan is no longer the main horse economy and power like it used to be before the stagnation began.
If we compare it's economical performance with other Asian countries, Japan seems to be rather weak. China moves towards 9% of GDP and maybe beyond. Thailand is the second country who shows up great GDP growth - 6 to 7%
Taiwan is leading the overall performance. Taiwan is the best overall economy in Asia and the 4th best economy power house in the world behind Finland, USA and Sweden. Japan ranks on the 9th place in the Global Competitiveness.

http://tinyurl.com/2zmss

Japan needs many structural reforms. They need a new banking and money system as soon as possible to regulate the bad credits. More Western and other Asian countries have the opportunity to take over strategical companies and shares of interests in Japan. Nowadays J-companies are more and more dependent on foreign investors. The corruption in Japan is surprisingly increasing. Sad but true, Yakuzas have always been part of any machinations. They've got a massive influence in the Japanese business.

The Japanese society is a fucked society. Over 40 to 46% of the students are depressive.
Many workers do Karoshi due to overworking or they may choose the free death. Japan has one of the most highest suicide rates in the globe. And it is behind America. Japan has more suicide deaths then the USA, although the US got a much higher populution!! How can that be you might ask?
Not only salary men take their lifes, students who are in the huge pressure don't see any perspective and it makes me sad when I read that a 16 year old girl jumps down from a building- that really makes me mad and sad.
In fact every Mainichi newspaper (I stopped reading it) contains only bad news. Either it is a suicide, a gang rape (AGAIN), a gang kill or whatever. I assume that you've noticed the latest suicide trend- the so called "suicide pacts". This is just insane the society completly failed. If you just ignore these facts, then you're plain ignorants. This is the dark side of Japan, the true face.

The Japanese gov are playing the suicide rates and the unemployments down to keep up a good face and image. It really hurts to see those homeless under the bridges and threat them like peace of shit and handle them like they were under humans.
Suicides, pornography are just a few integral parts of the fucked society.

[FG Lurker]

A Baby Bust Empties Out Japan's Schools
Washington Post, March 3, 2005

NISHIKI, Japan -- When Kami Hinokinai Junior High opened half a century ago in this picturesque northern village, Fukuyo Suzuki, then a young mother, remembers joining other parents on a warm May afternoon to plant pink azaleas in the schoolyard.

The azaleas are still here, though bare in the winter snow and, like the new occupants of the school, more fragile than they once were. In a nation grappling with a record low birthrate and the world's longest average lifespan, Suzuki, 77, is spending the daytime hours of her twilight years back in the halls of her son's old school.

The junior high, which ceased operation six years ago because of a shortage of children, now houses a community center for the elderly. Suzuki comes to pass her time sipping green tea and weaving straw baskets with other aging villagers.

[...] "Now, I hear our elementary school is going to close, too," she said. "It's so sad for us. Children are vanishing from our lives."

[...] next year Nishiki is set to pay the highest price for its shrinking population: Unable to sustain its annual budget, it will join a growing list of Japanese towns that have officially ceased to exist and have merged with a neighboring city.

(Full Story)

Grade 2 at the elementary school has only three students.

I find this kind of thing very depressing and reading about it makes me worry about the future of Japan.

[Buraku]

Found these posts, what a shocker !! I don't know what truth is in the posts
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/disreadisplay.html?0+12057
http://forum.japantoday.com/fb.asp?m=380620
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14681
but they more or less say Perverted Japanese Nation Doomed to Fail

[Maths Dude]

FGlurker wrote

I find this kind of thing very depressing and reading about it makes me worry about the future of Japan.

Fuck off if you dont like it, dip shit.

[AssKissinger]

I find this kind of thing very depressing and reading about it makes me worry about the future of Japan.

Fuck off if you dont like it, dip shit.

That wasn't very constructive. But I teach at one school whose first grade class is made up of five students. It's no big deal. The populations may migrate but a lack of people certainly isn't one of Japan's problems.

[Taro Toporific]

.... a lack of people certainly isn't one of Japan's problems.

Fewer Japanese good.....but only old parasites like me baaaaad.

[FG Lurker]

FGlurker wrote

I find this kind of thing very depressing and reading about it makes me worry about the future of Japan.

Fuck off if you dont like it, dip shit.

You could at least learn how to use the quote feature properly... Or is that too modern for you?

[AssKissinger]

.... a lack of people certainly isn't one of Japan's problems.

Fewer Japanese good.....but only old parasites like me baaaaad.

I might come back here to retire...on the assumption that they'll ship me to the Philipines.

[FG Lurker]

Japan's fertility rate hits postwar low
Reuters, June 1, 2005

Japan's fertility rate hit a postwar low of 1.288 in 2004 in a fresh sign of the country's acute baby shortage, Health Ministry officials said on Wednesday.

The rate -- the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime -- was 3.65 in 1950 and fell under 2.0 for the first time in the mid-1970s, raising the spectre of a shrinking population where pensioners outnumber workers.

The fertility rate fell to 1.2888 in 2004 from 1.2905 in 2003, ministry officials said.

The declining trend is particularly noticeable in urban areas, with Tokyo registering a record low of 0.9986 in 2003, they said. The rate stood at 1.01 in Tokyo in 2004.

(Full Story)

[Buraku]

Dude, you're rambling.

the J-plan

[Buraku]

25% of Japan is oyaji

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=3663

[Reddeville]

If the majority of Japanese over 20 were functional adults, I`d say Japan`s future isn`t so fucked.

In another country you`d be looking at the problem of falling births and saying, `Yeah, well that means we can now do some productive thinking about making our lifestyle better, turning a minus into a plus, changing all those empty schools into green belts etc`.

BUT this is Japan! The land of the no-think, no-do, child-adults. The land of the serfs but now they`re not toiling in the fields and bowing down in case a samurai cuts their head off, and working for the leisured classes.They`re now ovewhelmingly urban serfs who have been raised to think `Aisatsu` is SOOOO crucial to this society. Bopttom line -

They`re frustrated, sex starved bitchasses who can`t do anything without making sets of bitchy, anal retentive rules and shitting on anybody who has the brain to wonder at why life here has to be so miserable and revolve around pushy neighbors etc who need to be smacked in the face repeatedly with an spiked glove.

At work they`re inefficient morons who take forever to do tasks that their counterparts in other societies take a few hours for. They all gather for endlesss meetings that mean jack and they can go out of the meeting and wonder why the schedule is now 2 or so hours late.

They`re drones who are busy sucking up salty miso soup and acidic pickles, telling us that Japanese food is the most healthy in the world, and then we hear that stomach cancer rates are among the highest in the world in Japan.

They`re busy smoking everywhere - in cafes, restaurants and bars, giving themselves cancer and the unfortunate passive recipients around them lung infections and maybe cancer.

That`s just a sample of the sinking ship of fools here. In another country there would be govt. groups planning to take advantage of the population drop - get together programs to green the rust belt and decaying suburbs, turn the dead inaka into national parks, get all those neets onto govt programs and pay them to do previously volunteer work, help the elderly who live at home, clean up the shithouse cities/suburbs etc.

Are these things gonna happen? Hell no, no way! This might be a well thought out plan to improve things! Better to bitch about foreigners and put them under surveillance and make sure they can`t get legal rights. It`s our fault of course - the fucked gaijin. Meanwhile Japanese people live in our countries and don`t get told continually they`re lucky to live in the west away from their shitty boltholes and extortion payments to rental agents etc. They don`t get blamed for exporting their homegrown Yakuza crime.

The hypocrisy of the Japanese is really starting to wear on me. Make money and get the hell out of her. Leave them to it - when there`s no fuckegaijin left who are they going to blame? Ah, the Koreans.

[GuyJean]

The hypocrisy of the Japanese is really starting to wear on me.

No way. Really?

GJ

[Mulboyne]

In another country you`d be looking at the problem of falling births and saying, `Yeah, well that means we can now do some productive thinking about making our lifestyle better, turning a minus into a plus

You would think that might happen but I don't see that kind of debate taking place in Italy.

[homesweethome]

[Buraku]

You would think that might happen but I don't see that kind of debate taking place in Italy.

That's because Italy allows immigration and a few asylum seekers every year, the place is full of immigrant Slavs, Turks, Polish, Egyptians...so if the Italians are not re-producing they simply import a few people

the number of refugees / asylum seekers that made it to Nippon last year = 2, even the Aussies are jealous

[Mulboyne]

Italy allows immigration and a few asylum seekers every year, the place is full of immigrant Slavs, Turks, Polish, Egyptians...so if the Italians are not re-producing they simply import a few people

Not simple when the unemployment rate is high (7.7% at the last report, albeit down from a high of 11.5%). The debate in Italy parallels that in Japan. The right blames rising crime on foreigners and opposes relaxtion on immigration procedures. EU nationals can work freely across borders but Poles, for instance, are not choosing Italy in any great numbers. There are labour shortages in the north but no work in the south. Predictions are for the population to fall to 40 million by 2050. Depopulation of rural areas is an acute problem.

[blackcat]

good post HSH
I agree with all you said, the REAL problem Worldwide and ESP in Japan is the average Jo-Blo isnt talking or thinking about this.

Most japanse are too busy eating and watching eating shows without a fucking clue where 90% of the food comes from...if they change channels they can see heroic Japanese coast guard chasing and boarding ships and hunting down evil FG`s and then bravlely rescuing someone.

This lack of thinking and balanced opinion or information and the HAWK right wing Gov. will lead these naive people into conflict yet again.