Interesting article. I feel that Japan's "Lost Thirty Years" is simply tracing the period when the British economy was stagnant. During that time, salaries did not increase, but prices were also stagnant, so many people did not feel that it was a problem. However, in the past few years, salaries have increased slightly, but prices have risen more than the rate of increase, so many people are struggling financially.

I do not feel proud of a homogeneous society, because it sometimes leads to prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion against foreigners. In this 21st century, when the world is closely connected to each other, we cannot have an attitude of "I don't know anything about foreign countries." However, many Japanese people are not interested in traveling abroad, even though they have the world's strongest passport.

Also, a collectivist society that is said to have originated in an agricultural society (?) also has the disadvantage of blind faith in power. In World War II, Japan was both a perpetrator and a victim in terms of the soldiers at the bottom. When it comes to following power and its results, I feel terrified when I see the current situation in Russia. I would rather have the British punk spirit than die following power.

We are very proud of our low crime rate. In rural areas, people still don't lock their doors when they go out. Japan is strict on drug smuggling, but there are few regulations on alcoholic beverages. If you go to a supermarket, you can buy alcohol for less than water. I think this is the reason why many people become alcohol addicts.

Only Tokyo and its surrounding areas have great transportation infrastructure, so if you live in a rural area, you must own a car. This puts a strain on household finances, including car insurance and taxes. Because the infrastructure is weak, people living in rural areas buy cars, which leads to the abolition of more and more transportation infrastructure in rural areas, creating a negative spiral. What will they do when they get older and can no longer drive? They have no choice but to move to urban areas.

I have never lived in the UK, so I don't know much about the crime rate there. However, I feel that the UK is still producing great researchers because it is the country of Darwin and Maxwell. When I board an airplane, I feel relieved when I see the Rolls-Royce logo on the engine from outside the window. I was attracted by the design and imported a Brompton folding bike, but was surprised to find that it did not have any Shimano parts. And above all, even though decades have passed since executives of Japanese companies kept saying, "From now on, we have to speak the British language," we still can't speak it (including the people themselves). This is our admiration for Britain.