Japan has deemed it more important to preserve its culture and identity than to ease economic strains, and it will continue to do so.

Pretty much.

And you know they might be partially right

Robotics will solve half the problem of a declining population - more workers, but it won't solve the other half - more demand and consumption.

Hey look around the planet. Immigration without integration becomes a huge huge huge social and racial issue. I don’t think Japan is doing it “right” but they aren’t fools rushing in either.

Still too xenophobic here to actually be able to approach it maturely too.

It's wise to be careful with immigration, but far too many Japanese want to hang onto the past and "preserve" their culture. They don't get that vibrant cultures and identities change all the time, the only preserved cultures are dead cultures. They really believe they can stop time, and haven't given any thought to the deep damage that will be done to Japan if they pursue that approach.

Nothing will ensure the death of a culture more than not allowing it to change and adapt.

I hope so. It would be good to have an example of an economy/society that has towed a different line from the one pushed by the neo-lib institutions like the IMF, so in the future we will a basis to critically evaluate the neo-lib, free market model the Davos billionaires and their "stakeholders" have foisted on us.

S. Korea is another case of a country with aging population and little appetite for mass immigration, so I hope they don't buckle, either.

but it won't solve the other half - more demand and consumption.

Assuming that "bigger is always better." Let's instead look at GDP per capita, at least, where Japan fares well compared its OECD peers.

Well, looks like the economy will continue to decline then.

Japan is being sensible in not rushing headlong in without giving careful consideration ----especally in view of some of the apalling problems that have and are affecting some countries that have adopted such policies.

Well, looks like the economy will continue to decline then.

People have been saying that for 20 years now. Instead, Japan's infrastructure, housing and many other living standards have improved, generally at a faster pace than in other developed countries.

Wage suppression is a problem, but that is the result of free market "reforms" promoting shareholder capitalism.