JAPAN needs stability in a time of urgency
The 1990`s were not kind to Japan and the early part of the 21st century also appears to be relatively negative. However, unlike the past, Japan is now blighted by political instability and both the ruling party and opposition appear to be short of ideas. Given this, Japan needs to find a new way in order to become more robust, however, at the moment this nation is divided by petty political point scoring. So can Japan find stability and vibrancy or will the next 10 years see more confusion and more inaction?
Currently, Japan must solve many problems and this applies to Japan`s strange economic system which allows virtual zero interest rates, the demographic issue, the pension crisis, the limited or stagnant wage structure, allow greater decentralization, rescue the collapsing health service, and a host of other issues. Also, social issues can not be ignored and this notably applies to hikikomori, suicide, and mental illness. Therefore, many problems are restricting Japan and this nation appears to be stuck in a negative time warp, whereby inaction or failed short-term policies rule the day.
Another major concern is political internal infighting within the two major political parties and major confrontation between both main parties. After all, it appears that disputes erupt even when no real dispute exists and the opposition leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, Ozawa, is a maverick within the body politic of this nation. Therefore, just when Japan needs a stable ship, the opposite is happening and this is not helping Japan at the moment. So can Japan find her own way?
At the moment you would have to say no because this nation appears to be a "mere shadow of America " and this is not helping matters. Also, within Northeast Asia it is clear that China is on the horizon and many Japanese people appear to have given up the ghost because they believethat China is the future power in Northeast Asia. Given this, it is hard to be overtly optimistic at the moment because a new way is not being found. This, therefore, does not bode well for Japan in the future.
Also, Tokyo dominates too much in Japan and you have a very unbalanced nation. This applies to the vitality of Tokyo and the recent strong showing of Nagoya. Yet at the opposite end you have dying places like Yubari in northern Japan and the economy of Okinawa is not so positive. Therefore, you already have a divided Japan and many parts of this nation are being neglected in order to boost the centre and this policy needs to be reversed. However, can Japan decentralize properly or will the centre still pull the strings from afar?
Overall, the future looks uncertain in Japan and new ideas are few on the ground and this is worrying. However, not all is lost because you still have a lot of vitality within the major companies of this nation. Yet demographics does loom large and the same applies to the moribund welfare system and the increasing elderly population will further burden Japan. So just when Japan needs new ideas, the opposite is happening and this is really negative because "the soul" of Japan appears to be tormented by the past. Given everything, it would appear that Japan will go from one crisis to another, therefore, stability will continue to be an issue and the future looks rather bleak for Japan at the moment.
Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA
http://journals.aol.com/leejaywalker/uk/
Showing posts with label japan in crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label japan in crisis. Show all posts
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
JAPAN - Reforms are needed to re-energize her economy and well being
JAPAN - Reforms are needed to re-energize her economy and well being
Japan is going through a very "rocky" period and this applies to monetary issues, demographics, politics, and her role in the world. Therefore, major reforms are needed and systems and thinking needs to be transformed. However, are the politicians prepared to change the current system and are the Japanese people prepared to be challenged?
Since World War Two many changes have taken place within Japanese society when related to modernization, major changes within the culture, and enormous development in the field of high technology. However, if you scratch under the surface and ignore the Westernization looks of most people, then you witness another Japan. Sadly, it is this Japan which appears to have a "stranglehold" over society.
If we look how America responds to major economic downturns then it is apparent that they make radical changes and this nation can rebound. Yet the same does not apply to Japan because since 1990 the economy remains sluggish and the Nikkei is well below what it was in the early 1990s. The entire economy appears to be stuck in one collective "zaibatsu" or under the spell of the "old daimyo system." Because change isn`t happening and cross sharing remains strong in this uncompetitive nation.
Yet if we look at history then we see a different picture because Japan could respond to changes during times of crisis or modernization periods. From Oda Nobunaga to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 we see dynamism in patches, but this is always swallowed up by conservatism or traditionalism. Not that all forms of conservatism and traditionalism are wrong but it is when it infringes on the free market and innovation.
Therefore, Japan needs to return to her past positives and these past positives are not always so long ago in history. After all, Yoshida Shigeru and the period 1960-1972 under Ikeda and Sato, respectively, were periods of high growh or innovation in order to restructure the economy. So can Japan re-energize herself in a time of great change and need?
I remain slightly optimistic that "a third way" can be found from the current impasse and a new vigorous Japan can re-awaken. However, this can only happen once Japan stops looking up to other nations and focuses on her own strengths. If this happens, then the enormous reserves of Japan can be utilized to galvanize the economy.
At the same time the government must focus on genuine cost effective measures and focus on the needs of the people. For example greater tax perks for families with children, freeing women from the home, and increasing a genuine support network whereby people are encouraged to increase their family size. These measures can be supported by reducing government wastage and allocating resources where they are needed.
De-centralization measures must also become a priority and central government funding must reward innovative prefectures and penalties must be implemented on prefectures who abuse their resources. Remember, from Oda Nobunaga to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to Yoshida Shigeru; you had people who could go against the grain and transform society. All these leaders understood the need for critical thinking so now it is up to Japanese people and the government to face up to the 21st century with confidence and not defeatism!
Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA
Japan is going through a very "rocky" period and this applies to monetary issues, demographics, politics, and her role in the world. Therefore, major reforms are needed and systems and thinking needs to be transformed. However, are the politicians prepared to change the current system and are the Japanese people prepared to be challenged?
Since World War Two many changes have taken place within Japanese society when related to modernization, major changes within the culture, and enormous development in the field of high technology. However, if you scratch under the surface and ignore the Westernization looks of most people, then you witness another Japan. Sadly, it is this Japan which appears to have a "stranglehold" over society.
If we look how America responds to major economic downturns then it is apparent that they make radical changes and this nation can rebound. Yet the same does not apply to Japan because since 1990 the economy remains sluggish and the Nikkei is well below what it was in the early 1990s. The entire economy appears to be stuck in one collective "zaibatsu" or under the spell of the "old daimyo system." Because change isn`t happening and cross sharing remains strong in this uncompetitive nation.
Yet if we look at history then we see a different picture because Japan could respond to changes during times of crisis or modernization periods. From Oda Nobunaga to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 we see dynamism in patches, but this is always swallowed up by conservatism or traditionalism. Not that all forms of conservatism and traditionalism are wrong but it is when it infringes on the free market and innovation.
Therefore, Japan needs to return to her past positives and these past positives are not always so long ago in history. After all, Yoshida Shigeru and the period 1960-1972 under Ikeda and Sato, respectively, were periods of high growh or innovation in order to restructure the economy. So can Japan re-energize herself in a time of great change and need?
I remain slightly optimistic that "a third way" can be found from the current impasse and a new vigorous Japan can re-awaken. However, this can only happen once Japan stops looking up to other nations and focuses on her own strengths. If this happens, then the enormous reserves of Japan can be utilized to galvanize the economy.
At the same time the government must focus on genuine cost effective measures and focus on the needs of the people. For example greater tax perks for families with children, freeing women from the home, and increasing a genuine support network whereby people are encouraged to increase their family size. These measures can be supported by reducing government wastage and allocating resources where they are needed.
De-centralization measures must also become a priority and central government funding must reward innovative prefectures and penalties must be implemented on prefectures who abuse their resources. Remember, from Oda Nobunaga to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to Yoshida Shigeru; you had people who could go against the grain and transform society. All these leaders understood the need for critical thinking so now it is up to Japanese people and the government to face up to the 21st century with confidence and not defeatism!
Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA
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