Thread by @Noahpinion

Today's @bopinion is about Japan.

A new imperial period, the Reiwa period, is beginning. Where is Japan headed in this new era? And where does it need to go?

bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

First let's talk a little bit about the Heisei period - the 30-year era that will end in a couple of weeks.

The Heisei period began with a lost decade

noahpinionblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/japan-…

During the 90s, Japan's economy stagnated, but its culture and international prestige flourished.

theatlantic.com/entertainment/…

Economically, the country recovered its footing by the 2000s.

(But not demographically.)

krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/ret…

Overall, the Heisei period should be regarded as a success - as a story of crisis and recovery, rather than as a story of decline.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

But now a new era is beginning. What does the Reiwa period have in store for Japan?

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Some Western observers believe that the name "Reiwa" contains dog-whistles for fascism.

Really, what they're concerned about is not the name, but the idea that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a fascist who will bring Japan back to its pre-WW2 condition.

But that notion, though appealing to Westerners who tend to see reflections of Donald Trump in other countries, is wrong.

Abe has not acted like a fascist at all.

In addition to enacting Japan's first law against hate speech and cracking down on rightist groups, Abe has opened Japan to an unprecedented amount of immigration, with a new guest-worker law and a fast track to permanent residency.

japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/0…

The number of foreigners working in Japan has been rising exponentially in the 6 years since Abe took office.

This immigration is already bringing big changes to what was once a closed-off and ethnically homogeneous nation.

japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/1…

And so far, Japan is embracing Abe's move toward greater immigration.

In a recent Pew survey, Japan was the ONLY country where more people said they wanted more immigrants than said they wanted fewer immigrants!

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018…

Abe has liberalized Japanese society in other ways. In an attempt to help women balance family and career, he has dramatically expanded free child care.

japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/2…

And the once-protectionist Japan is now probably the world's leading promoter of free trade.

bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

So Abe has:
* enacted a hate speech law and cracked down on rightists
* hugely expanded immigration
* expanded free child care and urged companies to hire women
* promoted free trade

If those sound like the actions of a Trump-type leader, I just don't know what to tell you.

But if the Reiwa period is to be one of liberalization, reform, and bold leadership, Japan still has much to do.

Two challenges stand out: Reforming corporate culture and fixing the justice system.

Corporate Japan's crushing work hours and seniority-based pay and promotion systems make it difficult to attract talented young workers.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Corporate Japan's long, unproductive working hours make work-life balance nearly impossible for many.

bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

Meanwhile, as the mistreatment of Nissan executive Carlos Ghosn shows, Japan's justice system is fundamentally broken.

bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

Japan needs to stop letting police force suspects to confess.

This barbaric relic of a system must be replaced with DUE PROCESS.

bbc.com/news/magazine-…

And Japan needs to give old right-wing judges (who enforce 19th-century norms out of personal preference) the boot, and replace them with younger, liberal judges.

theguardian.com/world/2015/dec…

Finally, Japan needs to redouble its efforts to improve relations with South Korea and resolve the historical conflicts stemming from Japan's colonization and wartime occupation of that country.

thediplomat.com/2019/02/a-prof…

But although much remains to be done, things are looking cautiously optimistic for Japan.

In an era where many advanced countries are collapsing into xenophobia and dysfunction, Japan is moving confidently forward.

bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

(end)