Facial Recognition: AI and Jobs

One of the many fears about AI include its ability to slowly replace jobs. One such science fiction movie, iRobot, highlights these fears, for the main character hates robots partly due to their constant presence in doing jobs that humans would have done. But even more realistically, self-driving cars are becoming a recent boom in the robotics and AI world with proponents arguing that it could ultimately replace taxi drivers. And Japan is not shying away from using AI to address significant labor shortages that could help convenience stores continue to provide cheap and affordable services. Much like Amazon's cashierless stores, Amazon Go, Seven-Eleven in Japan is using facial recognition and identification cards to reduce employment necessities in the stores. In the growing technological era, having cheaper services that require only minimal human employees will streamline businesses immensely. Although the human element will almost always be necessary for anything automated, at least for the near future, AI can provide a great deal of solutions for menial tasks. If anything, it could provide a relief to many businesses and increase production in the future.

7/11 introduces cashier-less store

The Japanese retail sector is encountering growing problems due to the shrinking labor pool and the rising cost of part time work. One possible solution is the introduction of cashierless-- and potentially one day unstaffed-- stores. 7/11 is piloting this idea for the first time in December in one of the their Tokyo stores. This small convenience store is inside an office building, and not open to the general public. It will use facial recognition software to allow costumers into the store. Once inside, customers can scan items, and money will be deducted from their paycheck. 1,000 of these stores already exist in China, and Amazon is experimenting with a similar model in the United States.

Generally, I think this is a logical move for retail stores and a good solution to some of the unique economic challenges that Japan is facing. However, I have some concerns about the potential for surveillance, privacy, and data collection in these types of stores. I also wonder whether will be accessible to Japan's older generation. That being said, I have been repeatedly impressed by Japan's ability to incorporate technology in efficient, useful, and humanistic ways.

School Rules

This article discussed the education system in Japan and how certain schools in the country have overly stringent rules that lean to the disturbing or downright ridiculous. To name a few examples cited by the author: no foreign words to be used, no dialect usage, to applaud the teachers upon entrance.

The author emphasises how the severe enforcement of these rules can have drastic impacts on the education and well-being of the child. Several children have been playing truant and some have even been driven to suicide. There was even a case in Osaka where a high school student bought a law-suit to the school that made her die her naturally brown hair black.

Teachers have also been accused of being creepy and abusing the students under their care. There have been cases of sexual harassment where male teachers have checked the colours of students underwear and bras. In addition to this there are rules that force children to be cold in the winter by enforcing the wearing of skirts and the banning of scarfs or stockings.

Such conformity contributes to the lack of incentive to break out of the norm and challenge the status quo, arguably destroying the creative spark of Japanese children from an early age. The consequences are even worse for those that come from a minority group such as those from the LGBT community or those with foreign descent.

This article was interesting to me because I deeply resonated with the content since I too attended an extremely strict high school. Rules bordered on the ridiculous and it made us feel like we were in some sort of prison, waiting for the bell to ring and for us to be set free of the confines of the school. I do believe that rules are necessary in order for a school to function well, however, that does not mean that educators are at liberty to demand anything they deem fit. These rules ought to stem out of an actual necessity and not an old fashioned idea of discipline.

The Imperial Family's Cage

Wow, all the articles this week were fascinating and deserve a deep dive. I wish we could have an extra long session this week.

The article that I found most novel was about the controversy around Prince Akishino's statement criticizing the state pouring funds into the Shinto traditions that will be performed when the new Emperor ascends the throne. The Japanese constitution says that the Emperor must not be involved in politics, which leads to a debate about whether this rule applies to the whole Imperial family. Additionally, the statement draws attention to the division of religion and state in Japan.

I found this situation really interesting and kind of felt bad for the Imperial family. They are literally a vestigial institution that exists only because the people didn't want to abandon the royal family after the end of WWII. Today, there is probably almost no one who believes in re-empowering the Emperor, Meiji Restoration style. Thus fearing a politically active Imperial family member may lead to a restoration of Imperial power seems a bit far fetched. Additionally, this fear essentially strips Japanese citizens of a fundamental right in any well-functioning democracy, the ability to be a part of public discourse and the future of the nation. To me the obvious choice is, which I think applies to most vestigial royal families in Asia and Europe, is the abolish this strange porcelain cage that the descendants of former Kings and Queens are trapped in. Eliminate the Imperial houses and allow these people to live normal lives and become well-functioning members of the democracy. Of course they may have immediate public clout by being descendants of the Imperial family, but that will fade with time if you abolish the house. Keeping the Imperial family just kicks this unnecessary problem down the road.

On the issue of separation of church and state, I am an ardent supporter of this separation. However, in Japan I haven't met too many people who have deep religious beliefs, like in the United States. Instead things like a Shinto ritual seem more cultural than religious. So depending on how the people interpret these rituals I can see an argument where they are merely cultural and not religious. On the other hand, I can also see an argument where by treating Shinto rituals as cultural you are just entrenching Shintoism and making it a more powerful religion. We see this in the United States with "cultural" traditions, such as the President being sworn in while placing their hand on a bible. Only three Presidents in history have chosen not to take the oath with a religious text and the last one was in 1901. While not a rule, it is a cultural event that clearly entrenches Christianity in America's social fabric.

"Use no more than 30cm of toilet paper each time"

Japan has a long history of an extremely stringent education system where students are punished for the smallest infractions such as sneezing more than three times or for not applauding your teaching when he/she enters the room. In others classes, I learned that during fascist pre-war government, the school curriculum was designed so that boys could become unquestioning, obedient soldiers and women would become “good wives and wise mothers.” It seems that these harsh rules are still enacting even 70 years after the war. Last year, an Osaka high school student brought a lawsuit because her school prohibited her from dyeing her hair brown.

Throughout the article, the author makes brash and forceful comments against the Japanese education system, using evidence from a couple of books written about the subject. For me, it was very difficult to actually judge how bad the education system because there are seemingly contradictory statements. For instance, the author says that its “a minority of schools that account for the problematic issues” but also claiming the the entire country’s educational system is flawed.

The topic of conformity has always been on my mind since coming to Japan. I find it really interesting that Japanese people won’t cross a one lane street if the light is red but no cars are nearby. We see evidence of the sacrifice of individual freedom through discipline in exchange for the collective good in all aspects of the Japanese society. For example, company employees work unpaid overtime and commit themselves to their company, even though it causes psychological stress and personal pain. I can’t help but think that the education system is the main reason for this type of behavior because it’s one of the most important formative times of a person's development. How can we do find the right balance of individual liberty and collective good?

Cybersecurity

Japan Cybersecurity

This article is about Japan’s cybersecurity minister, Youshitaka Sakurada, who is embarrassingly uninformed about his own department. Sakurada even made the confession that he does not even use computers and is rather unfamiliar with cybersecurity issues.

He stated that the main role of his job was to read out written replies of bureaucrats without making any mistakes, even this however has not always proven easy for Sakurada. He also provided inappropriate answers when questioned by lawmakers, and he has been labeled as a liability that is able to cause losses to Japan’s economy. This is not the first time that he has brought shame to the Japanese government, using excuses such as he has always instructed his employees and secretaries to do this sort of work for him hence his inexperience. He also did not understand what the function of a USB was either when asked about their usage in nuclear facilities.

He admitted, however, that although he does not use a personal computer he does frequently use a smartphone “many times a day since it is very useful.” The frightening lack of expertise in his corresponding field has caused shock and concern among the opposition party and it has even gained international attention. A lawmaker from the opposition party even stated that “it is incredible that a person who has never used a computer is in charge of cybersecurity policies.” The fact that Mr. Sakurada was able to attain this position brings to question the selection process of other ministers in the Japanese cabinet and just how valid these choices are.

This news comes ahead of concern of possible cyberattacks during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/15/japan-cyber-security-ministernever-used-computer-yoshitaka-sakurada

Fake News??

This week I read about a fictional festival depicted in a segment of the Japanese variety show Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q. The show depicts Japanese comedians traveling to foreign countries in traditional Japanese clothes and participating in festivals or competitions. Although not a news program, the show is at least in part understand as a program through which Japanese people can learn about other cultures and countries. In the disputed TV segment, Nippon Television depicts a bridge festival in Laos, where motorcycle drivers rode across narrow wooden planks over a pool of muddy water. The problem? There is no such thing as a bridge festival in Laos. The TV crew built the bridge at the edge of a festival that was celebrating local coffee. Motorbikes are rare in Laos. The television crew even payed locals to compete in the phony competition. 

Even though Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q is an entertainment show, I think that their actions are reprehensible and potentially harmful to the public. By presenting the festival as Laotian, they cultivate an ignorance about other parts of the world. One possible explanation the article cites for Nippon's actions is desperation. In response to the declining significance of television in Japan, where young people are increasingly turning toward online platforms for entertainment, the station may have felt desperate to grab the attentions of its viewers and maintain its relevancy.

I think this article also speaks to the more general issue in Japan of blurred lines between journalism and entertainment. On the one hand, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. By making news entertaining and accessible-- incorporating comedians and unusual segments-- television stations probably engage a higher proportion of the population in current events and are able to educate them about the global affairs. Yet, an expectation of truth must still be preserved. I think there are several shows/ comedians in the U.S. -- John Oliver comes to mind-- who successfully tiptoe the line between news and entertainment. We know they are making us laugh. We know their opinions are biased. But we also trust that the information from which they are drawing is factual. What Nippon did, I believe, crossed the line.

Cybersecurity: Global Failures

With the rise of cyber attacks by various countries such as Russia, China and North Korea, the demand for cyber security, both in the private and public sector, has become more and more necessary. Countries such as Russia, China and North Korea have invested heavily in resources dedicated to launching attacks against different organizations.

North Korea has become infamous for its attack on Sony following the movie about their leader, Kim Jong Un. China has also faced its fair share of allegations with companies like Amazon finding small chips located on server racks in which confidential information was being processed. Russia itself has faced allegations of hacking into the Democratic Party and exposing the various emails.

Like many other countries, Japan has found itself ill-prepared for the attacks as the new minister appointed for cybersecurity has little knowledge of the field and has established his role as simply a document reader. If anything, his justification of using a smartphone, not even a computer, is equivalent to suggesting that familiarity with modern technology grants him the knowledge needed to fulfill a highly technical position.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2018/11/13/the-cybersecurity-202-the-u-s-was-notably-absent-from-a-global-cybersecurity-pact-but-american-companies-signed-on/5be9c0881b326b3929054751/?utm_term=.978251fd3543

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-10-04/the-big-hack-how-china-used-a-tiny-chip-to-infiltrate-america-s-top-companies

The Fall of Carlos Ghosn

Shinzo Abe’s 2012 corporate governance reforms have been touted as successful, but the recent arrest of Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn for alleged criminal financial misdoings suggest otherwise. The articles provides context by describing one of the largest financial accounting frauds by another Japanese company, Olympus. In 2011, a British-born businessman was promoted to CEO of the optics company. Two weeks later, he exposed the company for over $1.5 billion in concealed losses, which included dubious payments to criminal organizations. Corporate misdoings are not uncommon as the articles brings up a multitude of examples, but the arrest of Ghosn is significant because it suggests the failure of Abe’s plan to shift power from the boardrooms to shareholders and to encourage boards to hire more foreigner board members.

There seems to be a reoccuring theme in this class about the Japanese government encouraging companies to take on foreign talent and the subsequent resistance by Japanese companies. In this case, companies were encouraged to “add two independent directors.” Nissan responded bring hiring a racecar driver and a retired bureaucrat, which is basically a joke. A more diverse board could have spotted Ghosn’s wrongdoings earlier and checked the chairman’s power. It’s almost universally agreed that increased diversity in the workplace improves performance in the long run as shown by respected studies like one by McKinsey. It’s not just a PR stunt. However, it always seems that Japanese companies fail to act of evidence like this.

What’s also interesting to note is the Ghosn is a foreigner, who completely revitalized Nissan from near bankruptcy to financial success in the 1990s. He was so successful that he was nicknamed “Mr. Fix it” and achieved celebrity status in the Japanese business world. After doing some more research, I also learned that you dismantled traditional Japanese business practices like the “life-contract” and “keiretsu”. His success can be seen as evidence for how foreigner talent can improve Japan, and it’s a shame to see success a hero fall down like this.

Ohitorisama and Hatsune

Ohitorisama

This article is titled Ohitorisama which means “One person” and it used by shop keepers when they find out you will be using their services by yourself. You can hear it being used mainly in restaurants and karaoke parlors.

The article is focused on how the trend of going to places alone is gaining traction and many businesses have started to cater their services to the solo consumer. The picture in the article is of a solo diner in a ramen restaurant, and indeed the social interaction in a solo ramen joint is minimalized to a great extent. You order your ramen from a machine, you are partitioned from other diners by walls, and even the food is delivered to you from the front without any interaction with the waiting staff. I have been to several ramen joints like this and can understand the appeal especially if you are dining alone. Most people feel socially awkward to eat out by themselves in restaurants, and the chance to have restaurant quality food even when you have no one to eat with is one that is appreciated by many. The chain ichiran even opened a chain in New York city.

 The article writes how more than one third of Japanese households are composed of just one person, which means that more companies are starting to cater to this huge segment of society. Several Japanese consumers are also searching for ways to have “me time” since their society is generally so intense in the workplace and fast-paced. The other main service mentioned here is solo karaoke where a Karaoke chain realized 30% of its consumers sang alone so they set up solo booths for individual consumers. These customers appreciate not having to sing songs they don’t want and being able to release their stress privately.

The article mentions other services as well that cater to the individual including single rider lines in theme parks, single meals in grocery stores, and solo trips in travel agents.

Love in another dimension: Hatsune Miku

This article is focused on a rather novel concept on a 35 year old soft-spoken man, named Akihiko Kondo, who recently got married with a virtual reality singer named Hatsune Miku. His own mother declined the invitation to his wedding this month because she was unable to accept her son’s commitment to a virtual animated character. None of his relatives also attended the ceremony however there were around 40 guests during his wedding in Tokyo.

Who is Hatsune Miku? She is an animated 16 year old singer with large aquamarine pigtails and saucer eyes. She has videos of her singing with other singers or of her giving solo concerts as well. Her name comes from the characters初音未来　which can be translated as the first sound of the future. She is a vocaloid character and she is available in 3 different languages including Japanese, English, and Chinese.

During his wedding ceremony, Kondo used a cat-sized stuffed doll as opposed to the hologram. His wedding cost over two million yen and since March he has been living with a talking hologram of Hatsune Miku that also cost about $2800 dollars. Kondo mentions how he has never cheated on her, how he thinks about her every day, how his wife wakes him up each morning and sends him off to work, turns on the lights when he come home, and tells him when it’s time to go sleep. The article mentions how he sleeps with the doll version of Hatsune who he tied the knot with in his wedding ceremony accompanied with a ring that fits her left wrist. Apparently he even took Miku to the jewelry shop to buy her the ring.

Although his marriage has no legal standing, he is not alone with over 3700 people having had cross dimensional marriages in the past. He has described himself as a sexual minority and that society should eventually learn how to accept him and his virtual wife in the future. Miku is especially appealing since the hologram does not age or die, and he doesn’t have to deal with the emotional complexity and burden of an actual human being.

References

https://mashable.com/2016/11/28/solo-ramen-shop-nyc/#u3M2XkQf7SqV

https://ec.crypton.co.jp/pages/prod/vocaloid/cv01_us

Ohitorisama

Japan's lowering birth rates have been a large issue with birth rates in Japan hovering around 1.44 in 2017 compared to the United States' 1.80. These low birth rates are partly due to the single culture that exists in Japan with 1 in 4 men and 1 in 7 women never getting married. The single culture is partially a result of economic hardships where individuals in Japan often have very little interaction with others and questionable financial security. In a survey released by a governmental institute, 86% of males and 89% of females hoped to get married but more than 40 percent said money for marriage was a hurdle they needed to overcome. Despite the government offering child support services, increasing numbers of individuals in Japan are choosing to remain single both for economic and social reasons.

Some of the social reasons include growing numbers of people finding freedom in their solitude with the ability to manage time and money without restrictions. Estimations predict that by 2040, nearly 40 percent of households will be one-person only and many different services have begun catering to these individuals. Karaoke sessions can be offered in solo singing booths and some restaurants are in solo booths. Even in places like Universal Studios Japan, single rider lines are prevalent across the entire park. Surveys have shown that younger Japanese individuals rate quality time alone above family time.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/14/national/social-issues/many-japans-growing-number-singles-claim-comfortable-facing-death-alone/#.W_P2CZMzbRY
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/04/05/national/1-4-japanese-men-still-unmarried-age-50-report/#.W_P7L5MzbRY

Ohitorisama

In Japan, businesses have been responding to the growing trend of young people enjoying activities on their own. More than a third of households in Japan are composed of just one person, creating an opportunity to cater to the solo consumer. For example, Karaoke places have increasingly built solo booths to accommodate singers who come without friends. The article also mentions movie theaters creating seats with partitions, travel agencies specializing in solo travel, grocery store meals for single people, and amusement parks that let singles skip the lines. 

As someone who often feels like I have to justify or explain to my host mom why I go explore places alone in Japan, I was happy to see that stigma surrounding solo activities is decreasing. Furthermore, I think that price structures should never make activities prohibitive for certain demographics. Diversifying options for all different types of consumers is definitely a positive. However, I take issue with several examples in this article-- particularly partitioning movie theater seats and restaurant seats to create solo enclaves. Nothing currently prohibits someone from dining alone or going to the movie theater alone. In fact, I do it all the time and enjoy the ability to be alone, but observe other people around me. I think being alone in the presence of strangers can cultivate a richer public life. Partitioning traditionally public, or semi-public spaces is likely a social and architectural mistake. 

Otaku Love

Akihiko Kondo, 35, marries a hologram of a virtual reality singer called Hatsune Miku. Although his mother was invited to the wedding, she nor any of his relatives came. The wedding was held in Tokyo by a company called Gatebox and it cost about 2 million yen. The article states that Gatebox, which creates the holograms, has issued more than 3700 wedding certificates for “cross-dimensional” relationships. Although Kondo cannot hold a conversation with Miku, she does wake him up and welcome him home. Kondo claims that there are many others in his position, and he hopes that his wedding will inspire others, who may be scared, to do the same.

Kondo’s situation called she some light onto possible reasons Japan’s “graying society” and mental health issues at the individual level. It amazes me that today, 1 in four men at age 50 have never been married, a decrease from 1 in 50 in 1980. From what I’ve learned while studying abroad, I believe that the high-stress, high-expectations, and extreme conformity of Japanese society creates severe trauma for those at the bottom. I can see a situation where a stressed out man who is failing school, getting rejected by girls, and unemployed would only be able to find acceptance in virtual characters. This relates to other forms of escapism in Japan like “Idol hand shaking events,” “calling an anime character a wifu” and “being a hikikomori.” Kondo explains that he has routinely shut down by girls in school and at work as a reason why he finds solace in Miku, who “can’t cheat, age, or die.” Some may argue that happiness is happiness, but I think this is completely avoiding the much larger problem which is a psychological disorder from loneliness. Although somewhat of a generalization, I feel that Japanese people can be too risk averse because society can put too much unnecessary pressure on people to succeed. Combined with poor economic conditions, more and more Japanese young men are “failing” are forced to deal with the consequences of shaming. The lack of mental health awareness in Japan makes the situation even worse.

Black Holiday Mirror and Changing Japan's Business Norms

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Japanese Bosses Queue Up to Look in the Black Holiday Mirror

The new leader of the Keidanren, Japan's all-powerful consortium of all the largest companies in Japan, is making people hopeful for much needed reforms in the Japanese work culture. The need for this reform is not only seen in the absolute tragedy of Japan's high suicide rate, but it is also seen in the fact that Japan, on a per hour basis, has the lowest worker productivity among OECD nations, but they work the most hours. Clearly the current work culture is unhealthy for the people and isn't even working efficiently for companies.

As the rest of Asia rises and the United States continues its strong growth, Japan is still stuck in the rut of losing decades. One big move that we discussed in class is the elimination of the binding "gentleman's agreement" that bound all companies to hire new-grads during a specific window. While there are those who argue that this will make a tight job market even tighter, the leader of the Keidanren responds strongly by saying the Keidanren has no role in creating and enforcing such rules. What really wows me about the Keidanren is how powerful it really is. If the US government created the, what are essentially regulations, rules the Keidanren all hell would break loose. The new leadership of Mr. Nakanishi is in my mind modernizing the Japanese company. The era of lifetime employment in a manufacturing space is not where Japan should be excelling. They need to shift to being more service orientated and flexible, these industrial era style rules aren't doing much more than limiting the freedom of these companies.

Rebirth of Nuclear Power?

Japan’s nuclear watchdog approves extension for tsunami-hit plant to operate beyond 40-year cap

With the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the public perception of nuclear power in Japan continues to be poor. As recently as this month, individuals in Tokyo were protesting against the opening of Tokai No. 2 power plant near Tokyo. The plant, which is about 130 km northeast of Tokyo, is similar to the Fukushima power plant that had the nuclear meltdown 7 years ago. Yet, the number of anti-restart signatures has risen to nearly 30,000 signatures despite the numerous promises about increases to safety and improvements in evacuation plans.

Briefly, these are the steps that Japan Atomic Power must clear to restart the nuclear power plant successfully:

• Power plant must produce at least 500,000 kilowatts to be economically viable
• Construct a 1.7 kilometer long coastal levee to protect against 17.1 meter high tsunamis
• Compile an evacuation plan for all members within a 30 kilometer radius (approximately 960,000 residents)
• Consent from host municipality and surrounding areas
• Approval from the Nuclear Regulation Authority

So far, the Tokai No. 2 power plant has only satisfied the last requirement and with the effects of climate change becoming a closer reality, such as stronger typhoons/hurricanes and large wildfires in California, nuclear power is becoming a more necessary alternative to the coal plants that have since replaced it. In 2010, nuclear energy consisted of 28.6% of Japan's energy and was reduced to nothing in 2014. In the last two years, thermal coal power has risen significantly with plans for more power plants, but the plans for these plants run contrary to other major countries such as U.K. and France which plan to close their coal plants by 2025 and 2021 respectively. Despite the efforts that Japan is making in developing renewable energy, it still falls short compared to other countries in the G7. Takamitsu Satu, a professor at Shiga University, argues, "Nuclear energy is the only power source that can fill the gap created by the reduced share of coal". Furthermore, no new nuclear energy power plants are being built partly due to the sheer cost of safety standards that must now be enforced. Despite the fact that this Tozai nuclear power plant has recently been approved, nuclear power continues to be shunned in Japan despite it being the only alternative that will reduce emissions.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181107_47/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/07/16/commentary/japan-commentary/plotting-japans-energy-future/#.W-rApJMzZZg
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/07/12/commentary/japan-commentary/future-shape-japans-energy-policy/#.W-rApJMzZZg

Englishnization (What an awkward word)

In 2010, Rakuten’s founder and CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani announced that the ecommerce company would officially switch its internal operating language from Japanese to English. Employees would be given two years to improve their skills or be subject to demotion. Due to Japan’s shrinking society, Rakuten looked to expand to the global markets to increase sales. Mikitani believed that switching the internal language to English would make employees more comfortable selling to foreign countries, make foreign business interested in the platform, and low to barrier to entry for foreign talent.Mikitani has dubbed this process, “Englishnization”, and this unique language changing process has garnered international interest by the likes of Harvard Business School.

Within the first year, Rakuten employees struggled with the change. Many people asked, “why do I need to learn this” or “is this really good for the company?” I personally admire Mikitani to make a bold, top-down decision and bring his company kicking and screaming into the global markets. Many Japanese companies are criticized for inertia, making slow decisions where everyone needs to agree. Had Rakuten taken that approach, the language change surely would not have happened.

After 8 years, the company has seen success as evidenced by employees scoring high on english proficiency test and an enormous increase in foreign talent. As a consequence, Japanese companies have to consider that difficult decision of “Englishnization.” I would think that Japanese companies would want to make the change in order to reach new markets. However, this change is a marathon, not a sprint, and it requires the everyone believes in English, not just the leadership.

English at Rakuten

This week I read about the Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten, which, 8 years ago, implemented English as the official company language. Employees were expected to converse and produce documentation in English. The only problem? Most of the employees didn't speak English, and potentially faced demotion if they couldn't learn the language in two years.

My impressions of this story was that it's kind of miraculous that this initiative has worked out so successfully for the company. Rakuten operates in 30 countries and more than 20% of its employees are foreign nationals. In this sort of large, multi-national cooperate environment, I think switching to English made some sense, though I'm not sure its is necessary or wise for other types of companies. However, the article also mentions that 70 to 80 % of new hires are non-Japanese workers. This raises some questions, I think, about how much initiatives like this will benefit the Japanese worker as opposed to making businesses more friendly for foreign workers and international consumers.

From some research I did, it also seems like this article downplays the degree to which this initiative was initially unpopular and unsuccessful. The company didn't provide any support, and for more than two years, progress stagnated. Only once the company began investing resources in English education, did the company culture begin to change. On a larger scale, I think the Japanese government will need to make an investment in better early childhood and primary school education in English if Japanese workers are to fully benefit from the Englishization trend in the workplace. Although somewhat successful, forcing mid-career workers to learn a new language does not seem like a recipe for success.

In the Kyoto Artisans in the 21st Century course, I've also began noticing the impact that Englishization has on long-term shinisse viability. In places we go where artisans speak English well, they tend to collaborate more with international clients and have better future prospects. In places where the craftsperson speaks little or no English, the future seems more uncertain.

Suicide Prevention

This article talks about a study that has found that among Japanese middle-aged men suicide rates surge on Monday mornings. This is blamed on a psychological state called blue Monday where people become more depressed as Monday approaches.

This research is ground breaking because it is the first study of its kind that analyzed the specific times in which suicides tend to take place. They found out that the days and times of day suicide occurs differ by sex and age with men aged 40-65 peaking between 4am and 7:59 a.m. right before their commute to work. This figure was at its highest from 1995-2014 when the Japanese economic deterioration was at an all-time high.  Among this demographic, the number of suicides at daytime was 1.57 times higher than at night, and 1.55 times higher than Saturday. The study cites that the most common form of suicide was hanging and gas poisoning. 

In contrast to middle aged men, older men and women tend to commit suicide during the day, peaking at around noon when they are usually alone at home.

The findings of this study are important and can change the way suicide prevention services such as telephone consultation services operate. Currently these services are provided from the evening to the late night, however, this study could alert these organizations to provide more resources during peak times such as the early mornings.

Although this story is quite grim, Japan has been making progress in suicide prevention. The phenomenon used to be taboo subject with families impacted by suicide having few support resources since the act was considered selfish. However, along with breaking of social taboos the implementation of funds to actively prevent suicide has successful managed to reduce the total number of people taking their own lives. By 2012, for example, the figure fell below 30,000 since 1998.

References

http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/japan_story/en/

Tokyo Medical University Sexism

Tokyo Medical University Sexism

It was brought to light this year that Tokyo Medical School had been changing entrance exam scores in a deliberate effort to reduce the ratio of female to male students in their university. This is one of Japan’s most prestigious medical schools and according to findings the school has been altering test results for more than a decade since 2006.

The investigation discovered that the school reduced the scores of female applicants in the first-stage exam by 20% and then increased male scores, with the exception of those who had failed the test at least four times, by at least 20 points. This kind of outright discrimination has been going on for years and it is unclear how many women have been affected by these actions.

The roots of this issue lies with the profound sexism found in the admissions board of the university which stated that they wanted fewer female doctors since they anticipated that women would shorten or end their careers after having children.

Women who failed to gain admission to the university are now demanding that the school pay a total of $68,600 dollars in compensation. These 24 women are demanding the university pay a 100,000 yen in damages for each year the applicant took the entrance exam. The women claim that they would have not applied to this university if they had known that they would have faced such illegal exam score altering as female applicants.

The university in order to prevent a drop in the level of applications plans to reduce its academic fees for the medical faculty by $10 million to about $19.8. This brings it down to the second lowest fees for a private medical institution in the country.

References

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/tokyo-medical-school-admits-changing-results-to-exclude-women

Made in X

President Trump's strategy of combatting a perceived economic takeover by China and even America's allies has been to effectively shut its doors or renegotiate deals. Some efforts to renegotiate trade pacts such as NAFTA have seemed successful. But some argue that the newly revised deal, named USMCA, will help benefit American workers but it also hurts the American companies and consumers. The U.S. and China trade war also had devastating results with the Shanghai Composite dropping nearly 25% since the start of this year and many companies in America have begun to feel the pain from rising costs, including 3M and automakers who now have to purchase more expensive steel from an industry now defunct in America.

China has also had a similar strategy to boost their economy, albeit with less confrontation. In 2015, the government proposed a radical plan to boost domestic production by 70% by 2025 and generate competitive high-end technologies to compete on the global scale. In doing so, many have argued this has either will push China to begin taking intellectual property from other countries or establish their own innovation economy.

Though not as isolationist as Trump's policies or as bold as China's plans, Japanese consumer companies see the recent rise of tourism to Japan as an opportunity to increase domestic exports. Shiseido and Kose, cosmetics makers, have seen 1/5th of their sales come from foreign tourists and therefore see their products as viable enough to export. By 2020, they plan to upgrade large plants in Tokyo and Osaka to increase production.

1. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trumps-rebrand-of-nafta
2. https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-09-06/trump-s-nafta-revisions-designed-help-us-auto-industry-could-have-opposite-impact
3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahsu/2017/03/10/foreign-firms-wary-of-made-in-china-2025-but-it-may-be-chinas-best-chance-at-innovation/#4c7e3bee24d2

Japan's CPTPP Agreement and Relationship with China

In big win for Japan, CPTPP to start at years' end after Australia ratifies Pacific trade pact

When Donald Trump entered the White House he delivered on a campaign promise to tear apart the TPP, which was a trade deal spearheaded by the Obama Administration. It would have been the largest multilateral trade deal ever and was meant as a counterbalance to expanding Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific region. After the US abandoned the agreement, Japan took the lead to reform the agreement and hold the remaining countries together to form the CPTPP. The article discusses how the CPTPP has been ratified by the required 6 nations to go into effect at the end of the year.

This agreement isn't just a big win for multilateral free trade and the member nations, but it is also a big win for Japanese leadership on the global stage. As the United States continues its isolationist policies and focusing on unilateral free trade agreements that produce less global clout, this opens the door for another nation to fill in this leadership gap. The two "nations" that have been going around signing free trade agreements everywhere have been Japan and the European Union. Japan and the EU have always played second fiddle to American global leadership, but they are now the vanguards for liberal free-market democracies. I think the CPTPP has a major symbolic impact in that it shows that other countries can help play the role of the US while it is a little distracted. The rise of China and its strategy of creating tributary states with predatory loans should not be allowed to replace the incumbent global power balance. It is excited to see Japan play a role in helping promote the trade ideology that is being dropped by the US.


China and Japan Reset Strained Relationship

While, the CPTPP is a blow to China it doesn't mean that Japan cannot also make moves to ease tensions between the second and third largest economies in the world. With China under pressure from the American trade war, they are looking for ways to stabilize the Renminbi and build better economic relationships. Ever since the controversy over the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyutai in 2012, the relationship between China and Japan has been frozen. The protests from Chinese citizens shocked Japanese companies and dampened their desire to invest in the country.

The agreements today aren't massive, but do show that the two countries are moving in the right way. They are a three year, $30 billion credit swap between the two central banks and cooperation on overseas development projects. Additionally they are promoting a forum between business leaders in China and Japan to find areas where the two groups can cooperate instead of compete. This shift shows how Abe is making more pushes around the world to promote Japanese leadership in the era of Trump. It also shows how China is increasingly looking for more friends in the world as Trump's trade war against the country continues. It will be very interesting to see whether Japan and China can abandon historical animosity in favor of international cooperation and economic growth.

Made in Japan

Despite a history of producing goods solely for Japanese customers, some Japanese companies are making large investments into domestic production in an attempt to capture more of the global market. There has been a global trend, where “Made in Japan” products are seen as superior goods.

To illustrate with an example, the cosmetic company “Shiseido” expanded its domestic infrastructure by 45 billion yen from 2020 to 2022. It also plans on building another plant in Kakegawa and cancelling the closure of an Osaka factory. Shiseido has global appeal - my mom requested that I buy makeup for her and bring it back. However, the increased production abilities will still fall short of demand and will require additional investments. Another cosmetic company, Kose, is popular with Chinese tourists and is also expanding its domestic production. Cosmetics is expected to become the new multinational face of high quality Japanese products.

Other reasons for this shift to global markets include the rise of e-commerce business through Alibaba. Japanese companies are able to sell to foreign customers without having to invest into foreign infrastructure or sales.

How could this trend impact Japan’s economy? Currently Japan has a reputation for high quality exports like machinery and automobiles. So, this “Made in Japan” trend could be the start of Japanese companies capturing other foreign markets like cosmetics. Moreover, China recently surpasses the US as Japan’s number 1 export, so the rise of the Chinese economy could help kickstart the Japanese economy out of stagnation.

Women Demand Compensation

A group of 24 women who were denied admission to Tokyo Medical University are demanding financial compensation after the school admitted that it had manipulated entrance exam scores for more than ten years to favor male applicants. The university did this to try and avoid a shortage of doctors, claiming that female doctors resign or takes leaves of absences when they have children. In addition to financial compensation, the women are also demanding that the university release the results of test scores for all of the applicants, and are asking for a response within two weeks.

The article seems to suggest that there is a general shortage of doctors in Japan, which the university is now trying to address by lowering its tuition fee. This seems like a much more reasonable way to keep up enrollment than discriminating on account of gender. I also support the women in calling for the exam results to be released. I think this will lead to greater transparency and accountability. It is interesting that this case is happening now, just as Harvard is experiencing a challenge to their admissions processes in the United States.

Custody Battles in Japan

This article focuses on foreign men who marry Japanese women, have a child, and subsequently get a divorce. In Japan, about 80% of custody cases result in the mother winning custody of the child. Even in cases where the foreign parent wins the court case, the ruling is often not enforced. One person quoted in the article says that it's not that Japanese law favors Japanese parents, but that it favors "abductors."

These practices seem to violate the Hague convention, which supposed to prevent parents from bringing (or according to the legislation "abducting") their child to another country. According to the U.S. state department, Japan has a habit of not complying with the convention. Even when parents win subsequent court battles in Japanese courts, the police often do not act according to the article. This is because there are strict rules about not causing a child any psychological harm. Japan has defended its record, saying that the vast majority of Hague Convention cases have been settled.

The separate case of parents relocating a child within Japan is not covered by the Hague convention, and is also discussed in the article.

I think it's unfortunate that there is so much uncertainty and inconsistency regarding these laws. I don't know enough about international or Japanese law to have an opinion of these type of rules, but I was struck by how unofficial this process seemed to be. It must be very nerve-racking as a parent, given these circumstances.

Foreign Fathers

This article is about a topic that I had never thought about, but is actually quite serious and worrying. It talks about how in Japan when a man and woman get divorced 80% of the time the woman gets sole custody of the child, which means that the father rarely sees their child again. The article attributes this to the tough laws and patriarchal cultural norms of Japan.

However, the main focus of this article is foreign men becoming estranged from their children when their Japanese wives run away to Japan with their child. Although Japan has signed the Hague Convention, which is designed to prevent a parent from blocking access to a child by moving to another country, many foreign fathers have been unable to take successful legal action against their ex-wives to gain custody of their children. The Japanese legal system appears to favour continuity so the longer a child is separated by the kidnap parent, the greater the chance the kidnap parent has to retain their child. The Japanese government, however, claims that these sorts of events are the minority and that most cases have actually been successfully resolved.

Japanese law is quite ambiguous in its law with regards to child abductions in this context. The abduction is only a criminal offence if it is done by force and disrupts public order. E.g. A visual kidnap would be far more likely to be considered a crime as opposed to a mother boarding a plane with her children. Japanese family court judges also enjoy great discretion in their decisions and can reverse foreign custody, refuse any visitation, award only a few hours a year, or in place of visitation rights order just a few photos every year. However, Japanese civil law is notoriously weak with enforcement and lack police-like powers to facilitate civic judgements. 

Reference

https://amview.japan.usembassy.gov/en/divorce-law-in-japan/

Terrace House: LGBTQ

"‘Terrace House’ opens its doors to LGBTQ members in Japan"

A popular reality show, Terrace House, revolves around the concept of different Japanese individuals living with each other in a single house with the idea that the individuals will fall in love with each other or else leave by their own accord. 

With the prevalence of LGBTQ rights, especially with the Tokyo Olympics and the recent passage of a law that prohibits LGBTQ discrimination, the discussion around LGBTQ has become more pronounced than before. With this increased exposure, especially to the younger generation, seeing individuals who are LGBTQ in the media will not only encourage those who are LGBTQ to be proud of their identity but also familiarize people with them to show their humanity. 

The article highlights the positive response that the community has shown the new individuals in the Terrace House, but also shows the reluctance of older generations to accept LGBTQ and even the lack of support from the younger generations in same-sex marriage. The portrayal of these individuals in media will hopefully change the attitudes towards LGBTQ individuals in Japan, much like it has in many places around the world.

Canada Legalizes Weed

On October 18th, Canada legalized the recreational use of marijuana, prompting the Japanese government to respond by sending warnings that the use abroad can still be prosecuted. The criminal charges for possession of weed in Japan are incredibly strict: distribution can result in 10 years in prison and a 3 million yen fine and possession can result in a 5-year sentence and 2 million yen fine. Despite the harsh consequences, it’s still difficult to prosecute a Japanese person traveling abroad unless they are caught and deported. For those traveling to Japan, domestic laws apply; for instance, in 1980, Paul McCartney was caught with marijuana possession at the Narita airport and subsequently sent back to the US. According to the article, the number of marijuana-related crimes in Japan of those aged 14-19 has increased fivefold since 2013.

The different attitudes towards marijuana differ between western countries like the US and eastern countries like Japan. Many attribute this contrast to the Opium wars of the 19th century, where China was nearly destroyed by the rampant use of the drug. In addition, during the war, many Japanese soldiers became addicted to meth in response to the grueling conditions of war. Thus, Asian countries tend to be fearful of all drugs regardless of their effects. Even though some may criticize the strict rules, it has created a strong taboo against usage and drug-related crimes are extremely uncommon compared to Western standards.

The drug war in the US is highly controversial - some argue that criminals be prosecuted heavily while others claim that rehabilitation and lax rules will improve the situation. It’s a complex issue that I’d like to research more and see how different countries are approaching this problem.

Exciting Potential in E-Sports

The rise of e-sports has been one of the most interesting phenomenon over the last decade. With Japan opening the doors to Casinos over the next few years these Casino companies are planning to continue embracing e-sports.

Japan is looking to maintain the tourism boost they will get from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics via these resorts and these resorts are hoping to capture one of the last major markets without a developed gambling industry.

From my perspective what makes e-sports more exciting than other sports is the amount of content available for fans and how it is easy for someone to join in on the fun. Compared to traditional sports, e-sports usually only require the computers that most of us already own. You don’t need a local team to play with, instead you can plug into a global community instantly via the internet. This global community plays countless games every day and many of them are streamed live on platforms such as Twitch. With content and low-barrier to entry e-sports are becoming massively popular and fans have an easy time to connect with their favorite players.

The next step for e-sports is to have the same level of regard as traditional sports in the business world. Lately, e-sports has been readily embraced by major technology companies and more traditional companies, like the casino resorts in this article. Amazon acquired Twitch, Google has built YouTube Gaming, and I’m sure other competitors are on the way. Additionally traditional sport clubs in the United States, such as NBA teams have bought wholly or equity in e-sports clubs. With buy in from the content distributors (technology giants), talent developers (sports clubs), and the gambling business we will probably continue to see growth.

Japan is located right next to the e-sports capital of China and can hopefully capture a portion of this rapidly growing market.

Not Even an Heir

Japan to promote foreign takeover of heirless companies

Japan has some of the world's oldest businesses. The Guinness Book of World Records lists a hot spring hotel in Yamanashi as the oldest running hotel business in the world (started in 705) along with the world's oldest sake brewer and many other companies. Japan also contains half of the world's companies older than 200 years or shinise, a fact well explored in our Kyoto Artisans seminar. The longevity of these companies is linked with the concept of primogeniture in Japan: the eldest son of the family would have an obligation and the reward of receiving and running the company for the next generation. Creating such companies ensured the longevity of the name and the continuity of the brand. But modern views have begun shifting Japan's long tradition of loyalty in family businesses, because of the economic inviability of many traditional crafts, which are being less sought after, and a growing mindset towards choice within the culture. 

Such brand loyalty for Japan products have had benefits in that Japanese businesses have comparably lasted much longer than their Western counterparts. In fact, of the original Fortune 500 companies, listed in 1955, only 14 percent of these companies still exist today. But shifting times have pressured companies to begin adopting apprentices of the work who are more interested in the work and more talented in producing it as well. More than 90 percent of adopted individuals in Japan were adults and the infusion of new blood into the family business is believed to improve the business with new ideas. 

Despite this, the article suggests that not enough of the market exists where younger people want to become apprentices or succeed the existing business. To save the existing Japanese businesses and reduce the large economic impact of nearly 1.27 million companies, which constitutes a third of all Japanese businesses, the Ministry of Economy is encouraging these businesses to be acquired by European and U.S. businesses. With many owners entering advanced ages, like those in the wagyu business, Japan's companies with their long traditions of isolation and loyalty has struggled to compete with the continuously expanding global market.

Sources:

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-japan-has-more-old-businesses-than-any-other-developed-nation-2015-4

https://www.munich-business-school.de/insights/en/2017/family-business-japan/

https://slate.com/business/2014/10/worlds-oldest-companies-why-are-so-many-of-them-in-japan.html

Young Koreans Love Japanese Pop Culture

Japan’s praise of Yasukuni Shrine and its refusal to apologize for its wartime past have soured Korean and Japanese relationships. Furthermore, Koreans in Japan are treated as second class citizens and are practically excluded from voting due to family-based voting laws. In spite of this, some believe that relations can be eased through young Koreans’ obsession with Japanese pop culture.

Korea’s love for Japanese culture is evident. For instance, Author Kenichi Yamada states that two of the top selling books in Korean bookstores are written by Japanese authors. In addition, over 7.14 million Koreans visited Japan in 2017, second in number only to China and the number is expected to surpass China this year. One Japanese language teacher in Korea recounts that Japanese classes are becoming more and more popular among those in their 20s and 30s.

Although the article brings up a host of examples of Japanese interest, I don’t think that tensions between Korea and Japanese will ease anytime soon. Anti-Japanese sentiment runs deep in Korean families and teaching, which influences younger generations. Even though the WW2 generation is aging, it’s difficult to tell what younger Korean people think of their countries relationship with Japan without any surveys or data.

do elderly and disabled people in japan want robots to look after them

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Trade has announced a 20% increase in funding for companies that produce caregiver robots. The initiative is meant to address the projected lack of health care workers and Japan's aging population, though the author raises concerns about the quality of care that a robot can provide. I think the author did an interesting job of contrasting a future of Japan that is possible with one that is desirable. Although these technologies (which I happen to largely support) seem possible to invent, he seems skeptical that they will have a positive effect on people's lives. I think that health care is one of the most most personal areas in which we interface with technology. Perhaps, because of its aging population, Japan is being forced to think proactively about a new technological humanism. Though this kind of rhetoric exists in the United States, it doesn't seem quite as nuanced to me.

Ultimately, the author argues for greater consultation with users (elderly and disabled people ) when designing these care robots. This, I think, is the most important point in the article and one that I strongly agree with. These principles of participatory design and planning are now well respected in my studies of urban planning and architecture, but i'm not sure are yet common in technological ideation. I think people should have agency over the type of care that they receive.

Yasakuni Shrine

The Yasakuni Shrine is devoted to Japanese soldiers who died fighting in wars for their nation. This shrine has been a controversial topic since the end of World War Two since the shrine also honours 14 Japanese leaders who were convicted by the Allied Tribunal as war criminals. During the Second World War Japan had strong military presences in both Korea and China and massacred thousands of civilians during its imperial rule. Japanese militarism and aggression was responsible for horrendous atrocities like the Rape of Nanjing and Unit 731.

The Yasakuni shrine honours all Japanese war dead including soldiers that committed such heinous war crimes, and a visit by any Japanese prime minister always leads to tense relations between Japan and its neighbours. In 1985 the Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone visited the shrine to commemorate the Japanese war dead on the 40^th anniversary of their surrender. This visit was ill advised and it led to large anti-Japanese demonstrations in more than a dozen cities in China.

This article writes how current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent a ritual offering to the shrine for its four day autumn festival. His offering was a Masakaki tree that is typical of Shinto rituals. This offering comes prior to Abe’s three-day visit to China in October 25^th where he will be meeting with President Xi to discuss ways of improving relations between the two nations. This ritual offering has caused anger in both China and South Korea with the Korean foreign ministry releasing the statement. “Our government urges the Japanese political leaders to strive for trust of neighbouring countries and the international community through humble introspection on the past and sincere self-reflection based on correct understanding of history.” If Japan truly wants to improve relations with its neighbours its political leaders must move away from honouring this shrine that is still a source of pain and hatred for many in the region.

References

Sino-Japanese Relations: Pragmatism and Passion Allen S. Whiting and Xin Jianfei

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-yasukuni/japanese-pm-abe-sends-ritual-offering-to-yasukuni-shrine-for-war-dead-idUSKBN1HS050

Women Sailors - by Raveen

Women Sailors

The article talks about Japan’s biggest warship, the Kaga, which has a tight knit group of women sailors that are combating age-old social norms that still prevail in the field where men outnumber women 10 to 1.

The Maritime Self Defense force needs more women to crew warships in order to combat China’s growing regional influence and the falling birth rate is increasing the demand for women sailors.

Currently Japan is aiming to increase the enrollment of women in the military from 6% to 9% by 2030, however this is still significantly lower than the US 15% and the British 10%. Discrimination is reportedly low in the Japanese navy however they have been several reports of sexual harassment. The MSDF is also considering removing an end to the women ban on submarine duty which would be a major victory for gender equality in the military.

The MSDF is trying to increase privacy for women on the vessels and to provide them with generally better facilities. However the lack of access to internet and SNS has made this job less attractive to young recruits.