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Japan is an extroardinarily unique place. Even Australia, NZ, the UK and America have not just lot in common when you compare them to Japan, but a surprisingly

Japan is an extroardinarily unique place. Even Australia, NZ, the UK and America have not just lot in common when you compare them to Japan, but a surprisingly lot. Japan really does have its own culture and identity. The Japanese have always wanted to protect their culture, identity, and economy, going back to where n Perry shot off a cannon to get them to open up the West's plans. As a foreigner who loves Japan, I think there is a stretch between letting particularly interested individuals enjoy to the country--which is already possible--and opening itself up economic migration--which is what Western countries now experience. Look at Singapore. It's such a god damn hell compared to Japan even though on paper they should be doing better. There is really no other place like Japan on earth, it will be sad to see it homogenize with the rest of it.

Apocryphon 7y ago
Again, it seems highly dubious that opening up to economic migration means the same set of policies used everywhere, and the same results everywhere.
- wallace_f 7y ago
  I know you keep wanting to broadcast that opinion, but it is obviously not clear to be true. For reasons you can see in my comment, and also see this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19988198 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19988198
  - Apocryphon 7y ago
    So either Japanese culture is "extraordinarily unique" and has a strong sense of identity, allowing its people to pursue immigration policies with different results from other nations, or its culture is already no better or worse or different than those aforementioned nations- and immigration will lead to the same conclusions. So which is it?
- Nadya 7y ago
  We've seen the same results in every country that has attempted it, so why would one more country be any different? How many repeating occurrences of something occurring do you need before you can look at the data and go "There's a strong correlation there." without being called or implied to be a racist?
  - Apocryphon 7y ago
    Because if cultures are real, then it stands to reason that an immigration policy set by Japanese people would be different from one set by Western Europeans.
    - Nadya 7y ago
      There are only so many ways to make cheese and most of the process is going to remain the same. Being a different or unique culture doesn't fundamentally change how cheese is manufactured. I fail to see your point. There are only so many ways to do set immigration policy and currently Japanese policy is different from ones used by Western countries. Much to the chagrin of the Western countries criticizing it as their own policies are breaking down and giving rise to nationalism and increasing social and racial tensions.
      - Apocryphon 7y ago
        But we're not talking about different cheeses, but perhaps different dairy products. Yogurt is not a cheese. While not free of problems, Canada's immigration situation seems to not have attracted the same amount of problems as seen in other Western nations. Strange that Japan isn't adopting a similar points-based system. But it seems like the sort of Japanese innovation that could arise. One would presume a Japanese immigration policy and pathway of citizenship would mandate learning the language and other ways to facilitate assimilation, different from the policies of most Western nations.
        Nadya 7y ago
        >Strange that Japan isn't adopting a similar points-based system They do use a points-based system for highly-skilled workers: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/evaluate/index.html http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/evaluate/index.htm... >One would presume a Japanese immigration policy and pathway of citizenship would mandate learning the language and other ways to facilitate assimilation It strongly does and is incredibly difficult otherwise. When applying for citizenship if you struggle at all when asked questions in Japanese you will likely, if not certainly, be rejected. There are countless anecdotal stories out there confirming the difficulties in attaining citizenship from people who already have permanent resident status.

Apocryphon 7y ago

Again, it seems highly dubious that opening up to economic migration means the same set of policies used everywhere, and the same results everywhere.

wallace_f 7y ago
I know you keep wanting to broadcast that opinion, but it is obviously not clear to be true. For reasons you can see in my comment, and also see this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19988198 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19988198
- Apocryphon 7y ago
  So either Japanese culture is "extraordinarily unique" and has a strong sense of identity, allowing its people to pursue immigration policies with different results from other nations, or its culture is already no better or worse or different than those aforementioned nations- and immigration will lead to the same conclusions. So which is it?
Nadya 7y ago
We've seen the same results in every country that has attempted it, so why would one more country be any different? How many repeating occurrences of something occurring do you need before you can look at the data and go "There's a strong correlation there." without being called or implied to be a racist?
- Apocryphon 7y ago
  Because if cultures are real, then it stands to reason that an immigration policy set by Japanese people would be different from one set by Western Europeans.
  - Nadya 7y ago
    There are only so many ways to make cheese and most of the process is going to remain the same. Being a different or unique culture doesn't fundamentally change how cheese is manufactured. I fail to see your point. There are only so many ways to do set immigration policy and currently Japanese policy is different from ones used by Western countries. Much to the chagrin of the Western countries criticizing it as their own policies are breaking down and giving rise to nationalism and increasing social and racial tensions.
    - Apocryphon 7y ago
      But we're not talking about different cheeses, but perhaps different dairy products. Yogurt is not a cheese. While not free of problems, Canada's immigration situation seems to not have attracted the same amount of problems as seen in other Western nations. Strange that Japan isn't adopting a similar points-based system. But it seems like the sort of Japanese innovation that could arise. One would presume a Japanese immigration policy and pathway of citizenship would mandate learning the language and other ways to facilitate assimilation, different from the policies of most Western nations.
      - Nadya 7y ago
        >Strange that Japan isn't adopting a similar points-based system They do use a points-based system for highly-skilled workers: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/evaluate/index.html http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/evaluate/index.htm... >One would presume a Japanese immigration policy and pathway of citizenship would mandate learning the language and other ways to facilitate assimilation It strongly does and is incredibly difficult otherwise. When applying for citizenship if you struggle at all when asked questions in Japanese you will likely, if not certainly, be rejected. There are countless anecdotal stories out there confirming the difficulties in attaining citizenship from people who already have permanent resident status.