Where we go.

I think the future is uncertain because we keep referencing the past to decide where to go.

Japan’s systems are constantly looking to old traditions and outdated thinking and trying to apply those things in a modern lens.

It’s odd. Japanese people themselves are frequently comfortable with foreigners, different customs, modifying the status quo or adapting to outside views. The media, government and corporations are not.

Those adaptations, such as women’s rights, gay rights or even something as mundane as tattoos aren’t immediately rejected by most everyday people. Those things are immediately rejected by the most comfortable in the most comfortable positions, however.

It’s easy to see and difficult to fix, however, the standardization of inequality. As a foreigner living I. Japan, I am aware of unfair wages, lack of benefits and lack of protections. Likewise, even Japanese women are aware of the inequality of being forced into being homemakers or having to work multiple part time jobs while not receiving childcare or benefits. The people at the top don’t see that, and as thus, do not care or wish for change.

I recently read about Thailand moving further towards legalization of marijuana. Regardless of cultural conservatism or moral focus, they are approaching a jump that many countries have already taken. That is, if it’s not hurting anyone and also makes a lot of money, why not?

Japan, however has very few voices toward that issue, not strictly due to the people themselves, but the government’s control over the identity of the country. There are many pushing for it, but they remain unheard because they lack the voice of media or acknowledgement of government.

This, however, is also vastly artificial since prior to post WW2 occupation, Japan used it medicinally, and it was even a component of class in ancient Japan. Wealthy people had access to alcohol and the lower classes had access to cannabis. The entire history is conveniently forgotten. So therefore the argument that is frequently brought up about how traditional values are the only ones that matter is mute. Those traditional values have been modified for modern convenience of the few.

It’s a confirmation bias that affects everyone. it has nothing to do with true history or true traditions. it’s been co-opted to define current systems as correct, not an introspection of past and present viewpoints.

Issues as simple as a woman keeping her maiden name, gay marriage, paternal leave from work, or even a raise in minimum wage are being refused any advancement within the system. They aren’t even being addressed as the defense of “traditional values” as immediately volleyed at them by both the government and the heavily government confirming media.

I love Japan. I love the people and the acknowledgment of history. However the lack of true understanding of that history and the lack of sympathy for those outside the strict ideal are hurting the country and its people to its core. They are crippling it automatically when people are asking for freedoms.

I will keep fighting to showcase these imbalances. Women deserve more, foreign workers who give their all deserve more, children and even the systems that are in place now deserve more, but the hungry will rarely be fed by the well-fed. I fight these problems because I love this country.