Total GDP reflects power — both purchasing and otherwise. Power affects living standards, both in the short term (greater purchasing power lower prices) and long term (less power less ability to shape the world to what you desire).

In legal terms Japan is actually FAR more liberal than Taiwan. When I went to study in Japan I had absolutely no trouble getting a one year visa before I went, and was able to obtain an Alien Registration Card almost as soon as I arrived, which makes it easy to do anything that any other resident does, such as sign a cellphone contract or open a bank account.

Taiwan only gives foreigners a two month visitors visa, which can be extended, but only as far as you can actually prove you have business in the country. This means that my visa currently only lasts until about a week after this school term is over, although once I register for the next term I can register again. After four months of continuous gainful employment or study you can change your short term visa to an ARC (alien residence certificate), and only then can you actually sign a cellphone contract without paying a hefty deposit.

Japan’s treatment of other Asians is VERY different from that of westerners, but quite frankly, almost any American or European who complains about their treatment in Japan needs to get some perspective. Not that Japan doesn’t need to improve, but I think more for the benefit of other Asians than for us.

As for the declining population, why would anyone in their right mind care about the total GDP? As long as they can maintain PER CAPITA GDP there will be basically no problems.

As for foreigners, Japan is not as xenophobic as books written on the country in the 1970s and 1980s would have you think. The foreign population, generally cited as >1% until 2000, is now more than 1.5% nationwide and 3% in Tokyo. Permanent residency and naturalization requirements have been eased also.

Methinks the profit motive is the primary operative. There are undeniable side benefits. But that 27 year old mother with her 3 year old son would have starved just as quickly, super robots aside. Unless you believe in the countless anime enactments, where they assemble a robotic companion from derelict parts and sally forth to rage together against the universe …

Most of the big companies are outsourcing, automation included. They are completely unconcerned with the local labor pool’s problems.

Regarding Curzon’s original post from Australia’s The Age … Good stuff, but are there any good Japanese sources for commentary on this sort of thing? Japan’s inner conflicts. Diminishing expectations. Disintegrating social strictures. China looming and a ticking clock … ??

“… 850,000 people aged between 15 and 34 are described as “not in employment, education or training”Â? (called NEETS)… four million freelancers, known as “freeters”Â?, who do not seek full-time employment…” Two excellent terms here: NEETS & freeters. These may be new to Japan. But they’ve been full blown in the west since the 1960s.

Japan is a heads up for the west. Demographics are accentuated there because of their ban on immigration. The problems with continuation of aging social programs in Germany, France and the US will come to a head first in Japan.

GWB can warn about coming age group stresses. But in Japan a young lady pushes an uppity pensioner in front of a train. This is brought on by abortion, and other life choices in the west. Declining birth rate. Europe is importing a muslim replacement labor force. Britain brings in Africans as well as muslims. In the US, Hispanics are the chosen labor pool. All come with built in problems.

Japan has avoided these problems with its severe immigration policy. But they cannot avoid the problems brought on by the declining birth rate. Accompanied by western style self-actualization. Self-empowerment. The me generation. All done Japanese style. Should be interesting.

Got it here.

I, like Chirol, would like to read more about the structure of society in Japan. You keep posting and I’ll keep reading.