7 ms·

I think it's hard to compare Japan with the US or UK or other countries because unlike those countries, Japan can't turn on what I'll call an immigration valve

I think it's hard to compare Japan with the US or UK or other countries because unlike those countries, Japan can't turn on what I'll call an immigration valve and just flat-out import people to grow the economy.

svachalek 4y ago
Can't or won't?
- ericmay 4y ago
  Both really. They can't because they won't, but also because they can't.
- arrosenberg 4y ago
  Would be much harder even if they wanted to. Lots of countries teach their kids English, only one teaches their kids Japanese.
  - wahern 4y ago
    You don't need to speak the local language to live and work some place. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of migrant workers (temporary or permanent) around the world are unable to speak the local language upon entry.
    - arrosenberg 4y ago
      That works in America and the UK because there are already large immigrant communities for you to arrive into. If you arrive in Japan speaking Spanish or Hindi today, how's that going to go? It's not impossible, but it would take a lot of time and Japanese culture isn't exactly known for xenophilia.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
      - skinnymuch 4y ago
        The xenophobia is the point of the reply I assume. Financial life isn’t that great for most of the world. People will go places for a better life. Language isn’t going to stop that. Xenophobia will.
      - zarzavat 4y ago
        It’s completely possible. Most people in e.g. Qatar can’t speak much Arabic. The most common languages spoken in the Gulf are Hindi and English. I doubt that Japan will be going in that direction any time soon, but if they wanted to, they could.
- l30n4da5 4y ago
  only so much space on an island. Japan is pretty crowded as it is, isn't it?
  - bardworx 4y ago
    About the size of east coast, from Canada to Florida. It’s fairly large. Tokyo is crowded, however.
  - anonAndOn 4y ago
    Not at all. It's largely a chain of mountains so most people live down on the coasts.
danielscrubs 4y ago
Don’t forget the high taxes on investments in Japan. Basically, US is good for investors but Japan is good for workers. Japan’s median wealth is higher than US.
- shinryuu 4y ago
  Not sure I would call Japan good for workers. There is a reason for japanese having the word "karoushi", which has the meaning of a person that has died due to overwork.

svachalek 4y ago

Can't or won't?

ericmay 4y ago
Both really. They can't because they won't, but also because they can't.
arrosenberg 4y ago
Would be much harder even if they wanted to. Lots of countries teach their kids English, only one teaches their kids Japanese.
- wahern 4y ago
  You don't need to speak the local language to live and work some place. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of migrant workers (temporary or permanent) around the world are unable to speak the local language upon entry.
  - arrosenberg 4y ago
    That works in America and the UK because there are already large immigrant communities for you to arrive into. If you arrive in Japan speaking Spanish or Hindi today, how's that going to go? It's not impossible, but it would take a lot of time and Japanese culture isn't exactly known for xenophilia.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - skinnymuch 4y ago
      The xenophobia is the point of the reply I assume. Financial life isn’t that great for most of the world. People will go places for a better life. Language isn’t going to stop that. Xenophobia will.
    - zarzavat 4y ago
      It’s completely possible. Most people in e.g. Qatar can’t speak much Arabic. The most common languages spoken in the Gulf are Hindi and English. I doubt that Japan will be going in that direction any time soon, but if they wanted to, they could.
l30n4da5 4y ago
only so much space on an island. Japan is pretty crowded as it is, isn't it?
- bardworx 4y ago
  About the size of east coast, from Canada to Florida. It’s fairly large. Tokyo is crowded, however.
- anonAndOn 4y ago
  Not at all. It's largely a chain of mountains so most people live down on the coasts.

danielscrubs 4y ago

Don’t forget the high taxes on investments in Japan. Basically, US is good for investors but Japan is good for workers. Japan’s median wealth is higher than US.

shinryuu 4y ago
Not sure I would call Japan good for workers. There is a reason for japanese having the word "karoushi", which has the meaning of a person that has died due to overwork.