Japan as a country has lost its vigor. The economy has remained stagnant and suicides have topped 30,000 or so per annum for many years now.

Well, at least he reads the newspaper...

Thanks for pointing out the complete obvious. Now quit acting like all your predecessors, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

I mean, is it finally dawning on the politicos that the country has been, is, and will continue to wallow in do-do unless drastic changes that the xenophobic, misogynistic, minority keep thwarting?

whoops...

should read: unless drastic changes that the xenophobic, misogynistic, minority keep thwarting are finally undertaken with a sense of urgency? Or at least before Japan falls out of the G8.

The atmosphere in Japan has done a complete 180 since I was here in the 70s and 80s. There used to be a buzz in the air with so much more "life" in people's expectations for themselves and the country.

For me, the change in the young adults have been the most profound. Teenagers and young adults used to seem to have a much less jaded attitude and outlook on their lives and a greater sense of wonderment and excitement when I used to encounter them. These days, they seem so much more "subdued" and resigned. It could be that I'm just not meeting as many glass is half full kids like I used.

But there definitely is a lot less "electricity in the air" in this country than there used to be.

People were saying the same thing back in the 80s. They would point to the Takenokozoku and the Bosozoku dancing at Yoyogi, and say there lies the future of Japan. Much like they do with the costume players that have replaced them. There are plenty of young and ambitious people where I work (including me). Mr. Kan is being preposterous (and I know there are people hurting here).

It is not only Japan that is in this malaise. Just look towards the number 1 and the unseen number of unemployed there are. With the wake of China and India (which we rich nations woke), the system has been knocked over.

We can no longer live a comfortable life on the shoulders of other nations and unless we all reduce our expectations and focus on more important things as pure consumerism, there will only be one direction for us: down.