[New Release] The Illusion That Japan Is an Advanced Country

Looking into Japan's Bare Face Trapped in Yesterday
Dissecting Japan's Advanced Nation Theory by Correspondent Yoo Young-su

[Asia Economy Reporter Sim Nayoung] In February of last year, when COVID-19 began spreading worldwide, a confirmed case of COVID-19 occurred aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which had departed from Japan. The cruise ship hurriedly returned to Japan, but due to the Japanese government's delayed response and inadequate follow-up measures, by February 28, 705 people were confirmed infected and 6 had died.

Although I questioned Japan’s insufficient response, a country I thought was ahead of us in healthcare, I assumed it was just a one-time issue. However, as COVID-19 rapidly spread within Japan, a huge gap became apparent when comparing the number of confirmed cases and deaths with neighboring countries like Korea and Taiwan. It was the moment the question “How could advanced Japan be like this?” was deeply engraved in our minds.

The book released on the 28th, “The Illusion That Japan Is an Advanced Country”, reveals that our vague perception of Japan as an advanced country is a prejudice and explains why Japan continues to stagnate and regress.

The author, reporter Yoo Youngsoo, has worked as a Japan correspondent for several years, witnessing the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Korean Wave boom. He shows through vivid examples and historical analysis that the postwar growth drivers of Japan have become shackles today, and that the Meiji Restoration-era order has not been properly reformed, causing Japan to remain increasingly stagnant.

Japan, which introduced democracy first in Asia and remains the world’s third-largest economy, is a country where authoritarian culture is deeply rooted, unable to hide its bewilderment at industrial decline and the rise of neighboring countries, and nostalgically longing for the “good old days.”

This book examines how Japan, a country we thought we should catch up to, became trapped in the “yesterday” and guides readers to face the true face of “advanced” Japan. It also helps us reflect on the shadows of Japan that still remain within us.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.