JAPAN 2000: JAPAN 2000: The View From WithinThe View From Within

Courtenay Fisher

Martin de Laureal

Economics 285

November 2000

Our MissionOur Mission

We aim to highlight the key social and economic changes that Japan has undergone over the past ten years and will continue to undergo in the future.

Produced in 1989, this film provides candid commentary and significant insight into the fears and aspirations of the Japanese people.

Their anxiety and hope, as they face the dawn of a new century, revolve around great cultural changes, both socially and economically.

Economic evolution Economic evolution in Japanin Japan

After WWII, Japan modeled itself after America ( more likely, however, the United States modeled Japan after itself during the American Occupation).

Throughout the past half century though, Japan has started to look within for solutions to economic objectives.

Industry to informationIndustry to information

Japan has transformed itself into an information based economy.

Three major innovations have brought the Information Age to Japan:

The Computer The Jet Airplane Evolution of Telecommunications

• These three innovations have allowed the day-to-day transactions of the Japanese, both domestically and abroad, to occur more quickly than ever before.

Internationalization Internationalization of Japanof Japan

Foreigners want Japanese products (ie. Exports are increasing).

More and more foreigners are speaking Japanese.

Foreign tourism in Japan has become an important part of the economy.

While the Japanese While the Japanese economy shifts to economy shifts to

Information, the Societal Information, the Societal structure of Japan is also structure of Japan is also

evolvingevolving

Social EvolutionsSocial Evolutions

The Roles of Women in societyThe Roles of Young People in

societyThe Inclusion of Non-Japanese into

the Japanese culture Concerns for the Elderly population

Changing Roles of WomenChanging Roles of Women

Traditionally, the Japanese have observed a strict division between Men and Women in the workforce.

• Several Factors have brought change, including:

During the American Occupation, the 1947 Constitution gave women more civil rights.

The 1985 Equal Opportunity Law placed more women in the workforce.

• In general, the Japanese have faced the same gender equality issues that the U.S. has experienced over the past century.

Changing Roles of Young Changing Roles of Young PeoplePeople

The numbers of young people (those <21) in Japan has grown significantly.

Although the Japanese education system remains highly traditional and culturally based, children are now learning a broader based skill set.

This influx of new students has brought greater reform to the Japanese educational system.

A Bit On EducationA Bit On Education For years, the Japanese education system has

focused on wrote skills and the memorization of facts. The classroom teacher was the source of knowledge…what she knows is what will be taught.

This has differed greatly from the American system, which has aimed to promote independent thinking and the application of education to real life situations.

Today, many Japanese students study abroad and nearly 94% graduate from High School (vs. 76% in the U.S.).

Changing Roles of Changing Roles of Foreigners in JapanForeigners in Japan

In general, the Japanese have maintained a social prejudice against foreigners, especially other Asians.

However, because of the growing importance of tourism among other things, this prejudice is lessening.

Concern for Concern for the Elderlythe Elderly

The elderly population (those >65) is growing and will reach 25% of the total population by 2010.

Healthcare and social programs for the elderly have become cultural pressure points in Japan.

A Bit on HealthcareA Bit on Healthcare

Japanese Healthcare trails other developed nations.

Only 40% of population has sewage disposal services

Tuberculosis mortality is still a key concern Few physicians practice preventative or primary

healthcare Japan has no care system for home patients Physical rehabilitation and mental health services

are not priorities in Japan