My Desire to Change the Gloomy Atmosphere

 ■My Desire to Change the Gloomy Atmosphere

It was reported that Japan was selected as 2nd overall in the international ranking of “Best Countries.” It appears that stability and the future outlook were rated highly.

1st was Switzerland.

It appears to have been recognized as a “stable, open country” with a mature society and developed financial system.

3rd was Canada, 4th was Germany, and 5th was the United Kingdom.

The United States slumped at 27th due to a loss of reliability and leadership as a result of the Trump effect.

China rose due to its power and future outlook but came in at 16th.

Japan is rated very well.

However, there is bad information as usual.

In most countries, the impression held by its own citizens outperforms the impression held by foreigners. On the contrary, the results suggest that other countries think well of Japan, but Japan does not think that it is wonderful.

This is an issue of self-esteem.

Although international research concludes that “Japan is the most creative country,” Japan finished last by a wide margin in the question of “are you creative?”

The youth of Japan believe that they are not creative, do not demonstrate any will or potential to create, do not emphasize the power of the internet, and believe that the customary form of education involving memorization.

I don’t know when self-esteem became so low, but maybe it wasn’t so gloomy in the past. I believe this is an issue with the atmosphere that has continued for 30 years since the price bubble burst.

The following is a quote from “The Third Man” by Orson Welles.

“In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, once muttered that Switzerland is a “finished country.” It was an inadvertent comment, but it left a strong impression.

It could be that by calling it a “finished country,” Negroponte meant that Switzerland has matured through its long history but does not have any significant innovation in the modern age, so it has lost its luster, although it has not sunk.

Since he attended a school in Switzerland when he was young, I believe this was an emotional comment.

In studies by the World Economic Forum, Switzerland was 1st in competitive ability for 9 consecutive years until last year.

Therefore, it is not close to being finished.

He could be pointing to its decreased presence overall when considering politics, society, and culture in addition to the economy by saying that it is finished.

However, it sounded like he was criticizing Japan to me. He has told me this in person.

Japan fell behind in digitalization and is on a path toward being finished. It is stagnating and sinking.

Even Negroponte, who relied on a lot of funding from Japan when founding Media Lab in 1985, is seeing Japan in that manner.

With that said, these 2 countries finished 1st and 2nd in this study.

They demonstrate maturation rather than growth. They are stable rather than dynamic.

Perhaps the world sees the future in “finished countries.”

Despite that, it will be gloomy unless we can increase our self-esteem.

IoT and AI have brought another chance to demonstrate manufacturing capabilities, and there are chances as an advanced nation that is troubled with an aging population and natural disasters, but there are few opportunities for innovation through science and technology.

There is little intention to chase the United States, advance together with Asia, or be cunning like France or the Netherlands.

On the other hand, leaders in the United States and Europe say that they can work with Japan and have not been at odds with China and India lately.

Our position as being stable, not doing bad things, and exporting Pikachu and Doraemon means that we are probably a good friend to the world.

Let’s not be gloomy. Let’s change the atmosphere and face the world with a smile.