Chapter 208
The media is full of talk about the Tokyo gubernatorial election, but I think it's good that people are interested in politics. I'm not a Tokyo resident, but I feel that traditional political parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, cannot carry out reforms. Negative effects such as seniority-based systems and a policy of avoiding trouble are commonplace in private companies and lead them to ruin. The situation is the same in the world of politicians, but it's easy to criticize and say, ``No! No!'', but it's important to show a path to change. The problems Japan faces can be roughly summarized into the following three points. 1. Aging population with a low birth rate, 2. Economic stagnation, and 3. Huge fiscal deficit. These three problems actually stem from almost the same root cause, so if we can solve the root cause, all of them can be solved. In fact, it all comes down to the population structure. Let me explain below. First of all, the first reason why people don't get married or have children is due to economic reasons such as not being able to see the future, but this is more due to the fact that they can't predict the future than to the amount of income. If there is no bright future, there will be no children. The second reason for the economic stagnation is the decline in international competitiveness, but this is a complete policy failure and is related to the third reason, the fiscal deficit. Because corporate profits are not growing, the government is caught in a vicious cycle of trying to boost the economy with handout policies. For example, policies that are popular with pensioners rather than the working generation, such as the long-term care insurance system that began in 2000, such as a safe and secure retirement, have increased. As seen in the "Anti-Dam Declaration" put forward by novelist Yasuo Tanaka, who was elected governor of Nagano Prefecture at the time, the trend from rebuilding finances by reducing wasteful public works to election pledges that directly appeal to individuals, especially the elderly, is natural in an environment where voters are aging. However, as a result, budget allocations to increase the international competitiveness of the Japanese economy have decreased, and even though the construction of wasteful dams has been eliminated, policies that please the elderly have been lined up at every election, and the fiscal deficit has only increased. Policies that look toward the future of the working generation and children have been neglected, and the bill has come back to haunt us, resulting in the lost 30 years. Therefore, the solution is quite simple. 1. Present an economic vision that young people can envision for the future, and bring the population structure closer to a normal pyramid shape. 2. Stop policies that seek to appeal to pensioners and switch to investments that will increase international competitiveness. Specific solutions would require some drastic measures, as the period in which the issue has been left alone is too long. For example, if possible, invite 100 million junior high school, high school, and university students from countries such as the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam as special scholarship students. If 100 million people are invited, the average age of Japanese people will fall from 46 to 33. Japan will then invite these students as host families, or in some cases as adopted children. Naturally, tuition fees will be free, and host families will be given preferential or exempt income tax in exchange for providing support subsidies. These students will be given Japanese citizenship after graduating from university, and in return, they will be required to find employment and work in Japan for five years. If we can replenish 100 million young people, we can fill a policy gap of more than 20 years. I have no intention of running for election, but if there are young people who want to run and change politics, I would like to support them.
What does Ambassador Bodhidharma think about Japan's future?
July 10, 2024
My thoughts on the Tokyo gubernatorial election
