If you live in Japan like I do (expat Canadian) you also know that immigration is all well and good. However that is making the assumption that immigrants will try their best to assimilate (learn Japanese to a proficient level, understand and adopt customs etc). This is quite difficult to do. But it is necessary if you are intending to live here and make a life. Sadly, we have all seen the results of “multiculturalism” a la Canada, the UK, America and Australia. When people don’t assimilate it creates long term tension. The Japanese are wise enough as a civilization to realize that this situation is to be avoided. China is also similar.
We live in a finite world, so infinite growth is surely impossible. At some point we will run out of economically recoverable metals and minerals, so some form of retrenchment seems inevitable.
I don’t believe that the energy density of fossil fuels can be replicated by wind and solar, so nuclear power will be critical. Ami right or wrong?
Unlimited, unending growth on a finite planet is obviously unsustainable. Japan is a poster child for a society that has, of necessity, depended on importing resources from elsewhere for a very long time and has reached extreme crowding and social stress. Population declines are to be celebrated! The crisis is countries with huge percentages of young people that can't even provide a decent quality of life for existing numbers of people. Societies need to focus on encouraging and creating ways of managing population shrinkage.
Shifting the age distribution in the way that Japan is currently experiencing isn't just about a growing population vs. no or little growth, it also means addressing the different needs of a growing population of old and very old people without the demographic cushioning that smart immigration can provide. It starts with the question who will take care of those who can't take care of themselves anymore. Can robotics and AI fill in the gaps in intensive nursing home care?
Immigration is always presented as the solution for low population growth. But it is also coming from somewhere, actually from countries which are themselves slowing their growth.
So eventually this is just kicking the can down the road, not always with good results.
It's not just Japan that's facing the demographic timebomb. South Korea, China, Germany, Italy are other developed nations who are fast approaching the demographic cliff. I'm not sure if Japan has the right approach here. Immigration has been a mixed bag for the countries who embraced it. But Japan, China, South Korea stick to very low levels of immigration, citing cultural homogeneity as the most important aspect.
Yeah nah
When your society is imploding because of a stiff necked principle, you need to step back and have a good, hard think about it. Not much point in trying to maintain cultural homogeneity if there's no one to maintain the culture.
Enjoyed the article. It is a strong reminder that life, cultures and countries are finite and that extinction is a possible outcome. The Etruscans left their name to Tuscany, and archaeologists today sift through the remnants of a once great culture.
For Japan, ensuring their culture survives is paramount. Canada, on the other hand, has allowed its core culture to be diluted and if it continues, over time, it will be buried. Death by a thousand cuts.
I disagree with my namesake here. I live in a culturally diverse small city in Central British Columbia. Sure there may be a small amount of friction but that is overwhelmed by the mutual respect I see around me every day. In most of my fellow immigrants I observe the desire to become Canadians while holding onto a bit of our former cultures. We had Valentine's dinner at a South Indian restaurant, took in a big band concert (American jazz) and have a birthday party tonight with Ukrainian neighbors. That is refreshing, not threatening.
Wow, so interesting!
If you live in Japan like I do (expat Canadian) you also know that immigration is all well and good. However that is making the assumption that immigrants will try their best to assimilate (learn Japanese to a proficient level, understand and adopt customs etc). This is quite difficult to do. But it is necessary if you are intending to live here and make a life. Sadly, we have all seen the results of “multiculturalism” a la Canada, the UK, America and Australia. When people don’t assimilate it creates long term tension. The Japanese are wise enough as a civilization to realize that this situation is to be avoided. China is also similar.
We live in a finite world, so infinite growth is surely impossible. At some point we will run out of economically recoverable metals and minerals, so some form of retrenchment seems inevitable.
I don’t believe that the energy density of fossil fuels can be replicated by wind and solar, so nuclear power will be critical. Ami right or wrong?
Unlimited, unending growth on a finite planet is obviously unsustainable. Japan is a poster child for a society that has, of necessity, depended on importing resources from elsewhere for a very long time and has reached extreme crowding and social stress. Population declines are to be celebrated! The crisis is countries with huge percentages of young people that can't even provide a decent quality of life for existing numbers of people. Societies need to focus on encouraging and creating ways of managing population shrinkage.
Shifting the age distribution in the way that Japan is currently experiencing isn't just about a growing population vs. no or little growth, it also means addressing the different needs of a growing population of old and very old people without the demographic cushioning that smart immigration can provide. It starts with the question who will take care of those who can't take care of themselves anymore. Can robotics and AI fill in the gaps in intensive nursing home care?
The worst prediction for Japanese population in 2050 is 100 Million.
At the start of WW2 the Japanese population was 75 Million. 25 Million less than that worst prediction.
Japan is not going to run out of people.
Immigration is always presented as the solution for low population growth. But it is also coming from somewhere, actually from countries which are themselves slowing their growth.
So eventually this is just kicking the can down the road, not always with good results.
It's not just Japan that's facing the demographic timebomb. South Korea, China, Germany, Italy are other developed nations who are fast approaching the demographic cliff. I'm not sure if Japan has the right approach here. Immigration has been a mixed bag for the countries who embraced it. But Japan, China, South Korea stick to very low levels of immigration, citing cultural homogeneity as the most important aspect.
Yeah nah
When your society is imploding because of a stiff necked principle, you need to step back and have a good, hard think about it. Not much point in trying to maintain cultural homogeneity if there's no one to maintain the culture.
Enjoyed the article. It is a strong reminder that life, cultures and countries are finite and that extinction is a possible outcome. The Etruscans left their name to Tuscany, and archaeologists today sift through the remnants of a once great culture.
For Japan, ensuring their culture survives is paramount. Canada, on the other hand, has allowed its core culture to be diluted and if it continues, over time, it will be buried. Death by a thousand cuts.
I disagree with my namesake here. I live in a culturally diverse small city in Central British Columbia. Sure there may be a small amount of friction but that is overwhelmed by the mutual respect I see around me every day. In most of my fellow immigrants I observe the desire to become Canadians while holding onto a bit of our former cultures. We had Valentine's dinner at a South Indian restaurant, took in a big band concert (American jazz) and have a birthday party tonight with Ukrainian neighbors. That is refreshing, not threatening.