Japan's Political Stagnation and Its Societal Implications

Japan's stagnant political landscape hinders societal progress, reflecting deep-rooted feudal elements in its governance.

### Japan's Stagnation and the Illusion of Democracy: A Comparative Analysis with Korea
* 🇯🇵 Japan's political landscape, dominated by the **Liberal Democratic Party**, reflects a **deep-rooted aversion to change** and a **feudalistic mindset**, hindering societal progress.
* 🔄 Unlike the United States and Korea, where political shifts lead to significant societal changes, Japan's politics remain stagnant, primarily due to **hereditary lawmakers who treat politics as a family business**.
* 🗳 This nepotism perpetuates a system where citizens vote based on **lineage rather than capability**, making it difficult for **new ideas and innovations to emerge**.
* 💼 In the corporate world, Japan's lifetime employment and seniority-based promotion systems **stifle motivation and productivity**, resulting in a workforce that **merely follows orders rather than seeks improvement**.
* 📉 As a result, Japan's labor productivity has **declined**, and its economy has **stagnated**, while South Korea has embraced globalization and innovation, leading to **significant economic growth**.
* 🌐 The stark contrast in GDP per capita and wages between Japan and South Korea highlights this divergence, with South Korea's figures **rising steeply** while Japan's remain **flat or decline**.
* ⚖ Furthermore, Japan's judicial system, often referred to as "**hostage justice**," raises serious concerns about human rights, as seen in high-profile cases like Carlos Ghosn's, which exemplify the **oppressive nature of the legal system**.
* 📊 Ultimately, recognizing these dynamics is crucial for South Korea to assert its position on the global stage, as the **balance of power has shifted**, allowing for **more equal diplomatic relations with Japan**.

Doctor, could we find that Japan's aversion to change and its somewhat backward tendencies are reflected in the politics of the Liberal Democratic Party? Yes, we can definitely find that. If politics does not change, society will not change much either. Society undergoes significant changes when politics shifts. Just look at the United States; every time the president changes, society changes dramatically. Policies change as well. Just think about how much the U.S. changed after President Trump took office. When the Democrats take over again, it will change once more. Similarly, in Korea, when we switch between the ruling and opposition parties, moving back and forth between conservatism and progressivism, there are enormous changes. However, in Japan, politics does not change. It remains the same. So, when we look at politicians, whether they are members of the National Diet or ministers, the so-called prominent figures in Japan, we see this pattern.

Most of these people are hereditary lawmakers. They continue what their ancestors have been doing, which is not politics but rather a family business. In Japan, this has become entrenched. It's not about craftsmanship, but the ones who elect them are the citizens. The citizens elect the local district lawmakers, and in each district, there is a specific area designated for that lawmaker. In the past, just like the peasants lived under a lord, these people operate like a family in that area. When another lawmaker comes to that district, they have to compete with these people, which is not easy. Additionally, if a father suddenly passes away, the children who were studying abroad...

One of those people comes in and takes over. Yes, then if they take over, this person could be in their early to mid-twenties. They have nothing prepared at all. Still, despite that, they receive a nomination as a candidate from the Liberal Democratic Party. Why? Because they inherit it from their father. This is what we call nepotism. The most important thing is that in that electoral district, there have been long-standing members of the National Assembly, and there are residents who have consistently voted for them. It's not that this person is capable; it’s that they belong to a certain lineage. The residents who have voted for this person will continue to vote for anyone from that bloodline, regardless of who comes next. Whether this person has abilities or not is not the issue. The important thing is whether they are of the right lineage. This is feudalism. Why is that? Because Japan still retains many feudal elements.

Therefore, it is quite difficult to say that Japanese society is a democratic country. This is why I refer to it as Kabuki democracy. Japan presents a facade that looks democratic on the surface, but when you look deeper, it is very different from the traditional democratic systems we might expect. In Japan, there are still many remnants of a feudalistic mindset within the system itself. For instance, hereditary politicians control almost everything. Doctor, you have spent over ten years around Tokyo, meeting countless Japanese people. Do you find that they are somewhat different? Is there a resistance to change, or is there something in the national identity or DNA that sets them apart?

Is this something that feels conservative to the extent that it can be felt as a Korean? Is there something like that? Yes, there is. It's just that people tend to do things the way they've always been done. When someone proposes a new idea, it doesn't get adopted quickly; it's not a system like that. Since things have been solidified for a long time, people don't come up with bright, new ideas. They just do what they're told. Especially in companies, people follow instructions. So, when you enter the workforce in your mid-20s, Japanese young people don't have to go to the military, and many find jobs right after graduating from university. When they enter a large corporation, they earn about 2.2 to 2.3 million won. This is not related to their abilities; they receive a set wage. Therefore, there's no need to put in extra effort or strive harder.

Motivation and motivation are lacking. I just do what I'm told and wait until it's time to go home. After all, in four or five years, my position will rise, and my salary will increase according to that position. I just have to endure for a long time. This is a system of lifetime employment and seniority-based promotion. There are many discussions about how Japan's current stagnation is largely due to this system. The reason is that capable young people are not able to demonstrate their abilities. There is no reason to do so. If they show their abilities, it leads to performance-based pay and other incentives. In contrast, the United States has a system that is completely the opposite. Regardless of age, capable individuals receive higher salaries, and if there are achievements in a given year, those are reflected in the next salary determination.

So, if the performance is good, it can go up, and if the performance is poor, it can be cut back. That's right, so people work hard. This kind of thing doesn't exist in Japan. This is where a change in society occurs. That's right, there's nothing like that there. For example, if I want to improve my work performance, I need to think of innovations myself, hone my skills on my own, read books, and do more research to increase my achievements. When I do that, the next thing that comes is performance bonuses. So, people work hard. When this effort accumulates, it creates tremendous added value for the entire country. American society is that kind of society. After the IMF crisis, Korea also changed a bit towards a more Western system. Until then, we had borrowed a lot from the Japanese system, but if we look back at that time, the pension hierarchy...

Lifetime employment was almost like a pension hierarchy. After the IMF crisis, however, we have completely changed. How many people actually make it to retirement age? Many leave in the middle or get laid off; there are many cases like that. In Korea, there are many instances where people leave and can find jobs elsewhere. In a way, this shows that the job market is somewhat fluid. But in Japan, that almost doesn't happen. Of course, it is gradually changing compared to the past, and there is some awareness of this issue, but overall, it remains minimal. For example, if I get laid off from a company I joined, it’s not easy to find another job, so I become completely dependent on that company. Because of that dependency, what happens? I plead with them not to fire me, saying I don’t need a raise.

This is how it works: wages do not rise. This is a bad system. The Japanese system, in a way, was a real opportunity for South Korea after the IMF crisis. So, in a sense, there is a saying that construction comes from destruction, and destruction is the father of construction. During the IMF crisis, we broke away from the past Japanese-style system and embraced globalization. At that time, it was indeed globalization. The IMF must have demanded everything according to global standards, and we adapted to that. As a result, many systems changed dramatically, which helped us immensely. The most notable example is when we laid fiber optic cables, which allowed us to fully transition to the internet. It was because of this that our society developed significantly.

Digitalization greatly enhances added value and is the best way to increase labor productivity. I've always said this, but where can you see this? If you look at the market capitalization rankings in the United States, from 1st to 20th, you can see that back in 1989, when Japan was at its peak, 14 out of the top 20 companies were Japanese. There were about 2 American companies and one British company. However, currently, there are no Japanese companies in the top 20 at all. None. Even Toyota, which was recently ranked around 50th, has now jumped to around 30th. What caused this recent success? It's because Toyota has been selling a lot of hybrid vehicles, which has significantly boosted their profits. Additionally, the impact of the weak yen has also played a role.

So now Toyota has risen to 35th place; before, it was around 50th. This means that Toyota is now almost at the top, or Uniqlo is also likely quite high. There were times when it was said that Uniqlo was in first place or similar to Toyota, but I’m not sure about the current situation. Anyway, I recently heard that Toyota is the only one in the top 50. This raises the question of why so many Japanese companies, which used to occupy positions from 1st to 20th, have all disappeared. The companies that have replaced them are mostly American firms, particularly those related to the internet and digital technology. This shows that digitalization and internet-related advancements significantly increase productivity and added value. However, South Korea currently ranks in the world regarding digitalization and e-government.

In the top class, for example, in Europe, small countries like Denmark or the Netherlands may have high figures, but in reality, that doesn't mean much. The so-called mid-sized countries, which are generally around 50 million or more, and developed nations, show that Korea ranks above them. But what about Japan? It falls in the middle or perhaps below. So, Doctor, is there a clear indicator that shows Korea and Japan's national power has reversed? If we look at Japan's foreign direct investment balance and private sector facilities, we can see that there has been almost no investment domestically. If we take the year 2000 as 100, by 2022, it was only 118. Domestic investment has barely kept pace with what has been done in the past; there hasn't been much increase beyond that.

It means that there is almost none, so all the overseas investments are made, and money is flowing out of the country. Therefore, it’s impossible for the domestic situation in Japan to be good. However, the money that has gone overseas does not come back to Japan easily. The money earned from overseas investments is either reinvested or kept outside. This means that money does not come back into Japan. So, is that money Japanese or foreign? It's foreign money. However, when calculating Japan's GDP, that money is included. I see. So, when looking at Japan's current account balance, it shows a surplus, but in terms of cash flow, it is actually a deficit. This is the current situation in Japan. From this perspective, many small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan are in quite a difficult situation. If we look at this, the foreign direct investment stock compared to GDP shows that...

In 2022, it was revealed that Japan ranks third from the bottom, even lower than North Korea. This means that Japan has already been surpassed by South Korea and Taiwan in terms of GDP per capita. Looking at the trends in average wages since 2000 for G7 countries and South Korea, the red line represents Japan, which has remained stagnant. On the other hand, South Korea is on a steep incline, almost like a steep slope that makes it difficult for a car to climb. This is how rapidly South Korea is progressing. Italy is also not far behind Japan. Just look at the United States, Canada, and Germany. Do you know why Canada is rising so much? It’s because Canada is accepting a large number of immigrants, most of whom are wealthy individuals or skilled workers. From Canada’s perspective, this immigration is a huge success. Let’s take a look at labor productivity.

Japan is at the bottom of the G7. The peak years of the bubble economy were around 1985 to 1990, and even during those times, it wasn't that high. Labor productivity has remained almost the same, but recently it has been declining. This is because Japan has not embraced digitalization. Up until that time, we could say that the world had not significantly digitalized. However, recently, there has been tremendous digitalization globally, while Japan still remains an analog society, which is why it is in this situation. Regarding labor productivity and wages, Japan and South Korea have shown a reversal in 2018. If we look at the GDP per capita of G7 countries from the year 2000 to 2023, we see Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA. Only Japan has seen a decline, while the others have mostly increased by more than 2.2 times. If we look here...

Next, if we compare Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Taiwan, this is calculated based on the currencies of each country, with a ratio of 1.11. Due to differences in exchange rates, the United States was at 2.2 times, while South Korea increased to 3.14 times. Taiwan is at 2.19 times, indicating that South Korea has grown significantly since the year 2000, over the past 23 years. Currently, South Korea's GDP per capita, wages, and productivity are all higher than Japan's. If we take the wages from 1995 as 100, South Korea is now at 10, while Japan is at 33, showing a stark difference. In terms of wages, if we consider 1995 wages as 100, South Korea is over 300, while Japan is below 100. This indicates a negative trend for Japan. So, looking at this, what kind of phenomenon occurs?

Korea is a line that is rising, while Japan is a line that is extending sideways. So, what happens? It will continue to widen in the future; only that is left to happen. There is no reason for Korea to suddenly fall after continuing to rise, and there is also no reason for Japan to suddenly shoot up after its current situation. Looking at this, Japan's prices are currently remarkably low. Because prices are low, what phenomenon occurs? When calculated by GDP, it decreases. When prices rise, the overall GDP feels like it is increasing because GDP is the total sum of all prices. So, Japan's current drop in prices contributes to this. This is similar to Vietnam. Everyone will be surprised to see that the prices in Vietnam and Japan are now the same.

So, Filipinos come to Japan and say that the cost of living is cheaper than ours. They ask, How is Korea? and they find that Korea is at this level. This is the Big Mac index. The price of a Big Mac at McDonald's is the same as in Vietnam. In Korea, it’s 4 dollars, while in Japan it’s 3 dollars. China is much lower than Korea, but here China is positioned above. It seems like this varies by year, but anyway, Japan is below the average. This is because when you look at the level of IT investment in each country, this is the United States, and where is this? Sweden is rapidly increasing its IT investment. Korea would actually be around this level too. These people don’t really compare with Korea; they always compare with the G7. When you compare with the G7, Korea is always at the bottom. Why only compare with them when you can’t even match the neighboring country, Korea? Seeing this makes me realize that this is a kind of false narrative.

False representation. This data is made in such a way that it doesn't compare Korea and China with the rest of Asia. Recently, there have been a few more comparisons between Korea and China, but that is mostly due to a few scholars continuously discussing it. Most scholars still focus on comparisons and comparisons, and if they do that, Korea always ends up last. I don't understand why they do it that way. When you look at this, the e-government index has been assessed every two years since 2012 and 2014, and during this period, Korea dropped from 1st to 3rd place, then back to 2nd. This reflects Korea's current status. E-government is at a top-class level worldwide. But what about Japan? Honestly, I cannot believe this. This is truly unbelievable. Japan manipulates such figures significantly. They manipulate their GDP statistics as well.

I said that I don't trust Chinese statistics, but I also don't trust Japanese statistics. Just take a look at the digital competitiveness rankings; Japan is almost in 30th place, right? Anyway, South Korea is in the top tier. It's completely in the top tier. The internet usage time in Japan differs significantly from the world average. Look at the number of unique companies; South Korea may not have that many, but Japan has less than half. Right? Their population is 2.5 times larger than ours, so in proportion to the population, there should be at least 30 to 40, or at least around 45. There should be about 40. But Japan currently doesn't have that. Look at China; they have 173 unique companies. Of course, their population is large, so that can be taken into account. But then look at Germany; they have about 7,000 or 8,000, which is significantly more than Japan. So, Japan is lacking in various aspects.

Looking at these figures, when we consider the average salary of IT professionals, how much is it? It's similar to 30,000 in China, right? However, in reality, many Chinese earn a monthly income of 300,000 to 400,000 won. Most of them, right? At that time, Premier Li Keqiang mentioned that the population earning less than 100,000 is about 600 million or so. Xi Jinping said that China has entered the middle class, and Premier Li Keqiang responded by saying not to spout such nonsense. This can be seen as a reason for Li Keqiang's removal. When he made those statements, he was indicating that China is still in a serious situation. But the fact that the average salary of IT professionals in Japan is similar to that of China raises questions. Where does South Korea stand? It seems South Korea isn't even included in this comparison.

Take a look at the trend of nominal GDP in the middle. The red line represents Japan. The other countries are all G7 nations. Japan is often compared only with the G7, but what does that mean? Look at the trend of nominal private sector investment; it shows that there is little investment happening. The trend of nominal government investment is also at rock bottom. Take a look at this; the number of researchers in the private sector of major countries is displayed here. This is Korea, and this is China, which is at this level. Then we have Japan, which is at the bottom. This is France, this is the UK, and this is the US. Look at Korea; the number of private sector researchers is significant. This is why we've often said that Korea invests heavily in R&D. However, last year, the current government drastically cut the R&D budget, causing quite an uproar. I've heard that they are planning to restore it in next year's budget. In Korea, a considerable amount of national value is generated through R&D, which is why the number of researchers is so important.

This is the reason why there is such rapid growth in South Korean technology. The number of businesses going bankrupt due to a lack of successors is increasing. Japan has talked about its artisan spirit, but now there are no apprentices to inherit that knowledge. There are no family members willing to take over, so even though these companies are valuable, they end up going bankrupt because there is no one to inherit them. These cases are continuing to rise in Japan. This is why discussions about Japan's low birth rate and aging population are serious, and when we look into that, it becomes clear that our situation is even more severe. Japan has dropped from first place for four consecutive years to 38th place in national competitiveness rankings. This ranking is based on international indicators, and South Korea stands at 22nd place. In Asia, countries below Japan are...

There are only three countries. This is what the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has shown in its global competitiveness rankings. Japan was ranked 34th two years ago, but this year it has dropped to 38th. It continues to decline. But how about South Korea? South Korea is ranked 20th. Do you know what the 350 Club is? It consists of countries with a population of over 50 million and a GDP per capita of over $30,000. Among the seven countries in this club, South Korea is ranked second. This means South Korea is above Germany, the UK, and France in competitiveness. Japan is ranked 38th, and we are at 20th, while Italy is at 40th. So, when it comes to entering the G7, Italy and Japan are likely to be out, and South Korea has a high chance of being included. Australia is not mentioned here, but Australia probably does not meet the $30,000 threshold.

The population of Australia is just over 20 million. If we look at the ratio of full-time workers' median wages to the minimum wage, South Korea is almost at the top tier. This is France, this is the UK, this is Germany, and this is Japan. Therefore, South Korea will continue to rise like this. The real disposable income of those in their 20s has shown a downward trend over the years from 2000 to 2023. The real value is indeed falling; this is nominal. The economic insecurity for young people is increasing, and this phenomenon is referred to as the crocodile effect. In their 30s, economic insecurity is also rising. As the figures for economic insecurity increase, the marriage rate declines. This means that as the burden on citizens increases, the marriage and birth rates decrease. As the burden rate rises, the marriage and birth rates fall. In Japan, most indicators are also declining. This situation is serious; think about it.

For the past 30 years, it has only been downhill, right? Most statistics either draw parallel lines or show a decline. How about Japan and Korea? Korea, after all, continues to rise. China is also climbing rapidly, and the United States is doing exceptionally well. If we look at the global higher education enrollment rates, Japan is at this level, while Korea is at this level. If we consider this to be around 60, we are at 100, which is a significant difference in enrollment rates. Next, take a look at the percentage of female doctoral degree holders in OECD countries. Japan's rate is only a quarter of Korea's compared to other countries. Therefore, Japan shouldn't be compared to these countries. In the future, it should be compared with African countries or Southeast Asian countries. Last time, regarding the lime issue, how should we address it?

The issue at hand is how the Japanese government responds to companies investing overseas. Recently, SoftBank and Line formed a 50-50 joint venture. However, the Japanese government used information leaks as an excuse to demand that they sell their shares. This essentially means they are trying to offload the company, which doesn't make sense. This raises the question of why there has been such a sensitive reaction to this in Korea. There is definitely a connection to past events. For instance, when Nissan was on the brink of collapse, it sought to reform itself through a partnership with France's Renault. The reasoning behind this was that Japanese executives within Nissan were struggling to implement reforms, so they decided to bring in foreign management. This led to Renault acquiring shares in the company.

I know it’s around 30%. While investing in shares and forming a joint venture, there was one condition: the CEO had to be someone from Renault. So, Carlos Ghosn took over. He implemented significant reforms at Nissan. To briefly summarize those reforms, I happened to be at a briefing where the chairman of Nissan was speaking, and I learned how Nissan managed to recover. Within two years, it completely turned around and became profitable. When asked how Carlos Ghosn achieved this, it became clear that Nissan had faced numerous issues due to the influx of parachute appointments. Many individuals who graduated from prestigious universities and had long bureaucratic careers were brought into Nissan through these parachute appointments.

So, if you look at the composition of the personnel, there are so many people who are said to be receiving incredibly high salaries. This makes reform very difficult. It's not that you can't receive it within the organization itself, and it's also not easy to expel them. In Japan, it’s a bureaucratic society, so when Carlos Ghosn was appointed as the chairman, he devised a method to get rid of these people. He conducted interviews with each individual and asked them to write down what they could do for Renault-Nissan. For those who felt their pride was hurt by having to write it down in front of a foreigner, they ended up resigning. I still think that in Japan, there are bureaucrats; I mean, there must be deputy ministers or some positions like that, as politicians usually hold the ministerial roles. There could be deputy directors or even department heads.

From the perspective of those people, their pride does not allow this. As a result, quite a few have resigned and left, and those who remain think, Well, if I have to write this down, I've written it down. But when the year-end comes, they check one by one whether they did it or not. If they didn’t do it, their wages are suddenly cut in half or reduced to a third. This also hurts their pride, so some leave again. If the salary is reduced, they still have to fulfill their roles, so these people realize they need to work hard to stay in the company. Before, it was different; they would just hold a business card and act all high and mighty, trying to make connections with the government or something similar, and for that, they would receive an enormous annual salary.

So, that's why Nissan was almost ruined. Carlos Ghosn slimmed down the company significantly. He was able to drastically reduce labor costs. By cutting a lot of excess, he managed to completely restore the company in just two years and even made a substantial profit. However, Japan ended up ousting Carlos Ghosn. The reason for this was related to Renault's shares and the connection that the current French President Macron seems to have with Renault. The French government was trying to exert influence through Carlos Ghosn. Therefore, Japan thought they needed to stop this because, after all, this is a Japanese company, and Renault only holds about 30% of the shares.

So, he decided to cut ties and Carlos Ghosn was arrested at the airport when he returned from his business trip. Carlos Ghosn was completely blindsided; it was something he couldn't have imagined. The vice president he had trusted staged a coup. While he was away on the trip, they colluded with the prosecutors to report all the corruption allegations, claiming there was wrongdoing. They arrested him and threw him in jail. From Carlos Ghosn's perspective, it was truly absurd. He requested to have a lawyer present and to be allowed family visits. They had completely branded him as a criminal. What I want to talk about regarding Japan is their judicial system, which is referred to as hostage justice. Once you are detained, the moment you are arrested...

They are taking him hostage. He has to confess that he has committed a crime. If he confesses, then they might lower the sentence. If he claims innocence, they will never let him go. They will keep finding all sorts of reasons to detain him, continuously arresting him. They won't even allow a lawyer to be present, nor will they let his family visit him. What can one do in such a situation? This is a violation of human rights. That's what happened to Carlos Ghosn. He ended up paying an enormous amount of money to apply for bail, and when he first got out, he felt so wronged by what had happened to him that he couldn't bear it anymore. He decided to expose everything to the media and requested interviews. Knowing this, the prosecution immediately arrested him again. This has happened several times.

However, for several years, I was under restrictions on an annual basis. As time went on, Carlos was in a state of despair, realizing that he couldn't escape from here. So, he applied for bail again, claiming that they would hold a family concert during Christmas. He must have reported this to the prosecution. They invited musicians for the event. When they brought in the large instrument boxes, that’s when he actually got in. Among those invited to perform were experts, including a specialist from the U.S. special forces. He managed to hide inside the large instrument and escaped. Naturally, they wouldn’t check it since it was an instrument. The experts had thoroughly investigated all the airports in advance to find the one that would make it easiest to smuggle out the instrument.

Somehow, he made it to Kansai International Airport and escaped from there. It was a dramatic escape. That's how it happened. So, Carlos Ghosn came out and started talking about everything. He said that there was no human rights to be found, no matter how hard you looked. In such a backward judicial system like Japan's, he believed he could never receive a fair trial. At that time, do you know what the Japanese Minister of Justice said? He criticized Ghosn and said, Don't do interviews from afar; if you are innocent, come here and prove your innocence. But it's the prosecution that should prove guilt; why should the defendant have to prove their innocence? That doesn't make sense. There is a principle of presumption of innocence, after all. So, the defendant...

Assuming innocence, even if someone is detained, they are not guilty yet, so their human rights should not be violated. They should be provided with legal representation, allowed family visits, and have certain rights protected. However, Japan's judicial system lacks these provisions entirely. Consequently, the Minister of Justice made a statement that caused an uproar, asking how a suspect could prove their innocence, which is nonsensical. As a result, that statement was immediately retracted. Ultimately, this reflects the true nature of the Japanese judicial system; it reveals its essence. In Japan, once a person is imprisoned, they are treated as a criminal. This was explicitly stated by the Minister of Justice when they said, If you are innocent, prove your innocence. This makes no sense at all.

This is the Japanese judicial system. The reason I elaborated on this is that there is a strong possibility that LINE could face a similar situation. If the representative of LINE, who is Korean, gets entangled in such issues and is falsely accused and imprisoned, it would be very difficult for them to get out. There is a significant possibility that they could take everything away. Considering this, I have been quite critical of the LINE issue in various ways. However, it wasn't just about Kano; during the Tokyo Olympics, there was a person named Kadokawa who worked at a famous bookstore in Japan called Kanogawa Shoten. This person is a journalist and a publisher, which means they are considered an intellectual. But during the Tokyo Olympics, this person...

He was in a position of judging advertisements. Bidding on advertisements is like being in a judging position, and he was caught for taking a bribe. He insisted that he had never done such a thing and denied it until the end. However, they kept saying all sorts of things. They didn't allow him to have a lawyer or meet with his family. Then they told him, If you don't confess to your crime, you won't be able to get out of here. You won't be able to leave before you die. The pressure was almost like that. This person is now nearly eighty years old, so if this continues for a few more years, the chances of him dying in prison are quite high. He could also die from stress-related illnesses. Eventually, he managed to get released on bail and wrote a book about how wronged he felt.

He was arrested for a few days and then released, but regarding Japan's constitutional system, if you look at it, Japan's democracy is fake. Former Chairman Kadoya confessed that the dark aspect of Japan's hostage justice, often referred to as medieval, is marked by this term. This is what they call hostage justice in Japan. It's well-known in the international community as well. They urge Japan to improve this situation, yet the Japanese government remains unresponsive and continues as it has. This is recent information; this person has been giving interviews, questioning how the judicial system in Japan can be so backward. They labeled it as a medieval-level judicial system, calling it hostage justice. In other words, once you are taken in, you are completely held hostage; a hostage does not accept any conditions before agreeing.

They absolutely won't let it go. This is how the judicial system works. Because of this backward judicial system in Japan, the Lime issue should be of significant interest to the South Korean government, and I want to emphasize that. Currently, on July 1st, a report was written at Lime, but at that time, they did not discuss the equity relationship. The reason they didn't include it is that it was still ongoing, so they said they couldn't write about it, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs accepted that. However, before that, when the guidelines were issued on March 4th and April, they instructed that a report on the equity relationship should be made by July 1st, but then on July 1st, they changed the guidelines stating that reporting on the equity relationship was not necessary. Nevertheless, SoftBank and Lime...

It seems that the progress on the matter is still ongoing regarding the sale of shares. At that time, by July 1st, there were still many unresolved issues, so it was decided not to include that in the report. Initially, it was suggested to write about it, but then it was agreed that it could be omitted. It seems that this has reached a conclusion for now. However, on July 1st, when the report was submitted, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications approved it, stating that this was sufficient and that they would not raise any further issues. Nonetheless, it is uncertain when this might resurface again. The reason I am bringing this up is that Japan's judicial system is so backward that there is a possibility of manipulating the situation by coercively placing the representative of the line and threatening to seize control.

We cannot completely disregard this part. I hope our viewers are aware of this, and I would like this to serve as a reference in shaping our public opinion. Thank you. I thought Japan was a developed country, but I am learning a lot about various aspects. Doctor, thank you so much for sharing fresh insights about Japan with us today. Lastly, could you please share a message for our viewers? Among the things we've discussed today, we've introduced many of Japan's backward aspects. The reason I am speaking out here on YouTube is simple: we need to see Japan as it is. We should not overestimate Japan, nor should we underestimate Korea. This is important because overestimating Japan...

If we underestimate Korea, there is a high possibility that we will be dragged along by Japan's demands. Currently, our government is showing such a tendency, and I believe this is wrong. In a way, there are many people in the current government who are overestimating Japan. The reason I continue to share various information here is that today's Japan is not the Japan of the past, and today's Korea is not the Korea of the past. In terms of diplomacy and international relations, the balance of power is always very important. In that sense, we have reached a level where we can talk with Japan on equal footing. I keep emphasizing this point, and if we firmly recognize it, we can show a resolute attitude when Japan makes unreasonable demands, refusing to accept them.

In order for that to happen, South Korea is no longer a weak country like it used to be, and Japan is not as powerful a country as it once was. I keep mentioning this. So I hope you pay close attention to this part and find it helpful. That is why I am sharing this today. My channel is Lee Myung-chan's Japan-Korea Reversal TV. If you visit often and subscribe, I believe it will greatly support me in continuing to create such videos in the future. With that, we had a conversation with Dr. Lim Hyung-chan. Thank you for sharing so much valuable insight over this long period. You worked hard today.

"보고도 믿기지 않는 통계가 나왔다" 일본 후진국 수준으로 가난해졌다. 확실히 한국이 일본을 역전했다 (이명찬 박사 / 풀버전)

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웅달 책방

Japan's Political Stagnation and Its Impact on Society

Japan's aversion to change is reflected in the politics of the Liberal Democratic Party, with hereditary lawmakers maintaining power and perpetuating a feudalistic system.

This lack of political change leads to a stagnant society, where citizens continue to vote for candidates based on lineage rather than capability.

The country's lifetime employment and seniority-based promotion system further hinder the demonstration of young people's abilities, contributing to Japan's current stagnation.

The Changing Work Systems in Korea and Japan

The American work system, based on performance and innovation, has influenced Korea's shift away from the Japanese model after the IMF crisis.

In Korea, the job market is fluid, with many people leaving for new opportunities, while Japan's system remains rigid and dependent on lifelong employment.

The dramatic change in Korea's systems, including digitalization and globalization, has significantly increased its labor productivity and added value, leading to a reversal in national power between Korea and Japan.

Japan's Economic Challenges and Global Comparison

Japan's overseas investments have led to a cash flow deficit, with foreign money not returning to the country, despite being included in GDP calculations.

The country now ranks low in foreign direct investment stock and has seen stagnant wages since 2000, while South Korea and Taiwan have experienced significant growth.

Japan's labor productivity is the lowest in the G7, and the country's digitalization lag has contributed to its economic struggles, resulting in a decline in GDP per capita and a widening gap with South Korea.

Comparing South Korea, Japan, and China: A Critical Analysis

The data often misrepresents the comparison between Korea and China, with Korea frequently ending up last.

Despite Japan's manipulation of figures and low rankings in digital competitiveness, South Korea consistently performs in the top tier.

The trend of private sector researchers and R&D investment in South Korea suggests a strong focus on technology and innovation, while Japan faces challenges with a declining workforce and increasing business bankruptcies.

Economic Trends and Workforce Dynamics in Australia, South Korea, and Japan

Australia's population is over 20 million, with South Korea having a high ratio of full-time workers' median wages to minimum wage.

Economic insecurity for young people in South Korea and Japan is rising, leading to a decline in marriage and birth rates.

The Japanese government's response to overseas investments has been controversial, with past events like Nissan's restructuring under Carlos Ghosn highlighting the challenges of bureaucratic appointments and personnel reform.

Carlos Ghosn's leadership at Nissan faced resistance from employees, leading to resignations and salary cuts.

His efforts to slim down the company and reduce labor costs were successful, but he was ousted due to Renault's influence and arrested on corruption allegations.

Ghosn's escape from Japan involved a daring plan using a large instrument box, ultimately leading to his successful smuggling out of the country.

Carlos Ghosn's Escape and the Japanese Judicial System

Carlos Ghosn's dramatic escape from Kansai International Airport led him to criticize Japan's judicial system, claiming it offered no human rights or fair trial.

The Japanese Minister of Justice's statement, urging Ghosn to prove his innocence, sparked controversy and highlighted the system's lack of basic legal protections for defendants.

The concept of "hostage justice" in Japan, where suspects are pressured to confess and denied legal representation, has drawn international criticism and calls for reform.

The Ongoing Lime Issue and Japan's Judicial System

The Lime issue is of significant interest to the South Korean government due to Japan's backward judicial system.

The reporting on the equity relationship was initially omitted but later changed, leading to unresolved issues.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the current power dynamics between Japan and South Korea and encourages viewers to subscribe for more insights.