COLEGIO DE SAN GABRIEL ARCANGEL

CRIMINOLOGY

City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

Case Study (Japan)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY

Submitted by:
Bonza John Everson A.
Bermudez, Angelo
Magayon, Joshua
Naval, Dave E.
Capinig, Manuelle
Montillano, Mike Daryl
Velasco, Marc Angelo A.

Submitted To:
Mrs. Maria Corazon De Francisca
Professor
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Historical Background
A feudal system similar to that of medieval Europe arose during a period
of civil wars in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Each lord had his own set of
knights or samurai who swore allegiance to him. However, the western world did
not become interested in this island nation until the mid-sixteenth century. A
Portuguese mariner named Fernando Mendez Pinto was wrecked there in 1542
and returned with such positive reports about the country that Portugal
established a trading mission in Nagasaki.
Dutch merchants and European missionaries arrived soon after.
Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the western lords in 1600 and established the
Shogun dynasty in 1603, effectively ruling Japan until 1867. William Adams, an
Englishman who had served as a pilot for Barbary merchants and had served
under Sir Francis Drake, joined a Dutch fleet sailing for Japan. After a rocky start,
Tokugawa, the Shogun, took a liking to him and gave him a house. Jesuits and
Japanese missionaries Christians served as interpreters. The emperor
summoned him and assigned him the task of building a ship. Despite having no
prior experience with shipbuilding, Adams was so successful that the emperor
bestowed two swords upon him (the mark of a samurai). He also taught the
emperor mathematics.
Despite the fact that Adams had a wife in England, the emperor declared
that William Adams had died and been reborn as Miura Anjin, who was free to
marry again. He married a wealthy Japanese woman but wished to return to his
homeland. When he was denied permission, he constructed a larger ship with
over 80 retainers. In 1620, he died in Japan. Shogun, a novel by James Clavell,
is based on his own experiences.
Reason why do you choose this country
Cleaning habits foster a sense of community and a work ethic, which
leads to different educational outcomes being expected. Different groups are
formed, each with its own leader, and a sense of group participation and
responsibility is deepened through actual cleaning activities.
The lesson begins with the traditional aisatsu (greetings) to the teacher,
followed by his question about whether students know how to solve a problem he
had previously posted on the board. That day, his fifth-grade students are meant
to learn how to solve equations with many fractions, and he educates them on
how to approach these arithmetic problems. The first student to finish raises his
or her hand. The teacher approaches, takes a look at the problem, and circles it
to indicate that it was accurate. The student then stands up and leaves his seat.
Another hand is raised. This time, though, the first pupil assumes the position of
instructor or corrector.
Beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school, a time
set aside from studies for cleaning is included as part of the education in Japan.
Because the compulsory education system does not employ custodians, children
are trained to clean their schools for twelve years until they reach university.
During the rest period following lunch, all students assist in cleaning the school
grounds.
With a top speed of 275 miles per hour, the Japanese shinkansen train is
the world's third fastest train. Japan is well known for its politeness and good
manners. Not only that, but Japanese culture also include efficiency. Japan is a
busy country but is well organized. I was already impressed with the work
efficiency at the immigration gate at Narita International Airport. Have you ever
noticed that one of your household appliances is Japanese in origin? Or, if ten
cars are counted on the street, at least three of them are Japanese? As one of
the most technologically advanced countries, Japan offers a diverse range of
high-tech experiences.
 It's a one-of-a-kind view. Spring is Japan's busiest season, with a slew of
festivals and, of course, the cherry blossoms. You must have read, watched, or
at least heard of Japanese animation, no matter where you are. Isn't it fascinating
to see so many different people walking down the street? I'm not sure about
westerners, but as an Asian, I believe most Asians would like to visit a Japanese
hot spring at least once in their lives.
Japan is home to the world's largest automobile manufacturers. Japan is
the world's third largest vehicle manufacturer and exporter, and it is home to six
of the top ten automobile manufacturers. As of 2012, Japanese automobiles
accounted for around 30% of global automobile production. Toyota, Honda,
Nissan, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Datsun, Hino, Daihatsu,
Isuzu, and Subaru are among the world's most well-known automobile
manufacturers. Aside from its enormous automobile sector, Japan is also home
to producers of other types of vehicles, such as Kawasaki and Yamaha
powersports vehicles and Kubota, Komatsu, and Hitachi heavy equipment
manufacturers.
Japan, as a volcanic country with active volcanoes, has a plethora of
natural hot springs/onsen to offer visitors. Onsen are among Japan's most
popular tourist attractions. Japanese people place a high value on cleanliness.
There will be no litter on the roadsides, and the trains will be spotless!! In Japan,
everything is not only clean, but also in perfect order and neatness, such as
neatly trimmed trees.

Global Academic, Research, and Industry Hub. Japan has long been a
driving force in a variety of industries, ranging from engineering and
pharmaceuticals to robots, and it also has a strong academic community with a
motivated attitude, as seen by its 26 Nobel Prize winners in subjects such as
physics, chemistry, and medicine. Japan has one of the most comprehensive
national memberships in a number of international organizations, as well as a
long tradition of hosting international association meetings. There are also
numerous industry clusters located throughout the country, making it simple to
plan vacations that combine technical visits and networking opportunities.

Experience in Meetings and Events with a Proven Track Record, Japan

has a long history of holding international conventions and meetings. With over
10,000 delegates, the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meeting, one of the
world's largest gatherings, arrived in Tokyo on short notice in October 2012. Only
16 months before the event, the conference site had to be relocated, and the
Japan team handled the shift to Japan with passion and professionalism,
guaranteeing a smooth transition and a highly successful meeting - something
that the event's organizers greatly appreciated. This level of knowledge is
brought to all events in Japan by Japan's network of local convention bureaus,
experienced congress organizers, and DMCs.

Excellent Hospitality and Service, the hospitality business in Japan is well-

known for its high standards. Traditional Japanese hospitality is profoundly
entrenched in a culture of respect for others, particularly guests. Hospitality is still
a big element of Japanese society, and it's especially vital in the meetings and
events business. We consistently receive favorable feedback from conference
organizers and delegates regarding the high quality of service they receive in
Japan. According to polls of Japanese travelers, 91 percent are "very satisfied"
or "satisfied" with their vacation, and a whopping 93 percent wish to return (2012
JTA Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan).

A Continent's Variety in a Single Country, Japan spans from north to

south, from subfreezing zones in northern Hokkaido to subtropical zones in
southern Okinawa. With such a diverse geographic area comes a diverse choice
of tourism attractions and activities, as well as conference and incentive
participants. Japan's towns and regions provide everything from snowy
mountaintop ski resorts to coral reef-ringed islands, as well as sprawling
metropolitan areas and charming rural villages. Throughout the country, there are
dozens of government-designated "International Convention Cities," all of which
have conference facilities, hotels, research institutions, universities, and other
amenities that can be used for international events. On top of that, Japan
provides "only in Japan" places throughout the country, providing/adding that
extra local touch to events.

Definition of terms

Throughout the study, words and concepts must be elaborated and

explained so that both the researcher and the reader understand the same
concept. The following is a list of these significant terms and their definitions.

Prosperous, the term prosperous is frequently used to characterize a

person or a person's future, but it can also refer to anything that is growing and
succeeding. Prosperous is derived from the Latin word prosperous, which means
"doing well." Pronouns for this pleasant word include golden, well-heeled,
flourishing, and thriving.
Feudal System. A feudal system (also known as feudalism) is a social
and political structure in which landholders give tenants land in exchange for their
allegiance and service. In political rhetoric, the phrase feudal system is frequently
used in a much broader sense to refer to an outmoded, exploitative form of
administration. This term may or may not relate to relationships that do not
resemble previous feudal institutions.
Samurai. A military retainer of a Japanese daimyo who follows the
Bushido code of behavior. Japan's warrior aristocracy, The hereditary military
nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th
century to their abolition in 1876.
Disparity, an obvious and usually significant difference or dissimilarity in
economic/income inequalities, the fact is that America's universities have recently
been increasing rather than alleviating the country's widening wealth and
opportunity gaps.
 Abenomics, the label given to Japan's economic policies in 2012, when
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was re-elected for a second term. Abenomics entailed
expanding the country's money supply, increasing government expenditure, and
making changes to make the Japanese economy more competitive.
Emperor. A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling
an empire. An emperor is a man who controls an empire or serves as the
empire's head of state. An empire's male sovereign or ultimate ruler.
Tokugawa Ieyasu. Matsudaira Takechiyo, commonly known as
Matsudaira Motoyasu, (born January 31, 1543 in Okazaki, Japan—died June 1,
1616 in Sumpu), was the founder of Japan's last shogunate, the Tokugawa, or
Edo, shogunate (1603–1867). Founder and first shōgun of the Tokugawa
shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in
1868.
Fertility, the ability to generate kids through reproduction after reaching
sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a
female during her lifetime, and it can be calculated demographically.
Shogun. A military dictator. The title was initially used during the Heian
period, when it was awarded on a general following a successful campaign. A
hereditary commander in chief in feudal Japan. Because of the military power
concentrated in his hands and the consequent weakness of the nominal head of
state (the mikado or emperor), the shogun was generally the real ruler of the
country until feudalism was abolished in 1867.
LRT (light rail transit), Transportation planning in local citiesPublic
transportation; Networked compact city; Bicycle; Road traffic laws.

CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

Presentation of facts and evidence

Few countries have had a more colorful history than Japan. Japan, which
was founded by migrants from the Asian mainland in prehistory, has seen
emperors rise and fall, samurai warrior rule, isolation from the outside world,
expansion across most of Asia, defeat, and rebirth. Japan, once one of the most
bellicose countries in the early twentieth century, now frequently serves as an
international voice of pacifism and restraint.
In government, Japan is a constitutional monarchy with an emperor as its
ruler. The current emperor, Akihito, has little political power and serves primarily
as the country's symbolic and diplomatic leader. Japan's political leader is the
Prime Minister, who heads the Cabinet. Japan's bicameral legislature is made up
of the 465-member House of Representatives and the 242-member House of
Councilors.
Paleolithic people from the Asian mainland inhabited Japan some 35,000
years ago. Around 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, a society
known as the Jomon arose. Jomon hunters and gatherers created fur garments,
wooden dwellings, and intricate clay containers. According to DNA evidence, the
Ainu are descended from the Jomon. The Yayoi people's second wave of
settlement introduced metalworking, rice farming, and weaving to Japan.
According to DNA evidence, these settlers came from Korea.
The Kofun (A.D. 250-538) era is Japan's first recorded history, and it is
distinguished by huge burial mounds or tumuli. The Kofun were led by
aristocratic warlords who embraced many Chinese customs and inventions.
Japan has a population of 126,672,000 people. The country now has one of the
world's lowest birth rates, making it one of the world's most rapidly aging
societies. Buddhism, as well as the Chinese writing system, arrived in Japan
during the Asuka period (538-710). Society was separated into clans at the time.
During the Nara period, the first strong central government emerged (710-794).
Buddhist and Chinese calligraphy were practiced by the aristocratic class, while
Shintoism was practiced by agricultural people.
During the Heian era, Japan's distinct culture grew fast (794-1185). The
imperial court produced lasting art, poetry, and writing. At the same time, the
samurai warrior class emerged. In 1185, samurai lords known as "shogun" took
over the government and ruled Japan in the name of the emperor until 1868.
From Kyoto, the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333) reigned over much of Japan.
In 1274 and 1281, the Kamakura repulsed Mongol armadas with the help of two
miraculous typhoons.
The Yamato Japanese ethnic group constitutes 98.5 percent of the total
population. The remaining 1.5 percent is made up of Koreans (0.5 percent),
Chinese (0.4 percent), and indigenous Ainu (50,000 people). Yamato Okinawans
and Ryukyuans from neighboring islands are either Yamato or they are not.
Koreans (0.5%), Chinese (0.4%), and indigenous Ainu make up the remaining
1.5 percent (50,000 people). Yamatos are either Okinawans or Ryukyuans from
neighboring islands. Japan has the world's second highest life expectancy, with
the average Japanese citizen living to the age of 85.0 years. In Japan, the
average female has a life expectancy of 88.1 years, while the typical male has a
life expectancy of 81.9 years.
There has always been a large disparity in life expectancy between men
and women in Japan. Women are anticipated to outlive men by 6.2 years at the
moment. Prior to 1990, the country's life expectancy was not even among the top
100. Japan's fertility rate was 3.0 live births per woman in 1955, but it has
subsequently dropped to 1.4 in 2020. While a decline may appear to be worrying,
there is a strong link between reproductive rates and prosperity. High fertility
rates in impoverished countries perpetuate the poverty cycle, whereas
intermediate fertility rates indicate an economically stable, prosperous country.
Individual numbers in Japanese schools, there is a unique system of
individual numbers in Japanese schools, which consists of four figures. These
numbers are assigned to each student separately. The first two figures are class
numbers, while the following two are personal numbers issued to you in your
class. These numbers can be found on library cards and bicycle stickers, for
example. Any classwork or test should also be signed with your own digits. It
may sound like a joke, but a student cannot fail a test. Pupils in Japan are
extremely fortunate because such a privilege exists only in Japan.
Do you remember what happens if you fail an exam in other schools
throughout the world? Yes, it is an unfavorable circumstance, if not a nightmare,
for those who wish to participate in the graduation ceremony and receive a
certificate. Even if a student fails all of the tests, he or she can still participate in
the graduation ceremony at the end of the year. However, test scores are
important if a kid want to continue on to high school and university.
 Japan has a well-developed free market economy. It is the world's third
largest economy in terms of nominal GDP and third in terms of purchasing power
parity (PPP). It has the world's second largest developed economy. The country's
per capita GDP (PPP) is $ 41,637, according to the International Monetary Fund
(2020). Japan's GDP in dollars is shifting rapidly as a result of the unpredictable
currency exchange rate. Using the Atlas technique to account for these changes,
Japan is expected to have a GDP-per-capita of around $ 39,048.
The Bank of Japan's Quarterly Tankan survey of business mood forecasts
the Japanese economy. The Nikkei 225 index represents monthly traded blue
chip shares on the Japan Exchange Group, the world's third-largest stock
exchange by market value. In 2018, Japan was the world's fourth largest importer
and fourth largest exporter.
Except for $ 1.3 trillion, it possesses the world's second highest foreign
exchange reserves. It is ranked 29th in the Ease of Doing Business index and
fifth in the Global Competitiveness Report. The Economic Complexity Index
places it first in the world. Japan is also the world's third largest consumer
market.

Problems and Solutions

Japan is dealing with both short-term and long-term issues. Immediately,
their economy remains in a 30-year-long deflationary slump, which has only
lately been reversed by the Quantitative Easing (or "Abenomics" - named after
Japan's finance minister).
External debt has become exceedingly expensive as a result, and
repayment is tied to real assets, making growth harder to finance. Long term,
Japan's aging population will impose a financial burden on a shrinking number of
younger employees to pay their "Social Security" program due to low birth rates
and xenophobic immigration restrictions that prohibit foreigners from performing
specific jobs, owning assets, and becoming citizens.
This encourages young, educated people to relocate to other countries
while discouraging foreign immigrants from coming to work. In both
circumstances, counter-cultural policy measures are required to save the
country. The Abenomics approach provides some hope that the Japanese
people and politicians will alter course before it is too late. In both circumstances,
counter-cultural policy measures are required to save the country. The
Abenomics approach provides some hope that the Japanese people and
politicians will alter course before it is too late.

The Coronavirus Pandemic, Japan was set to host the 2020 Olympics,
which would have brought an economic boost, but the coronavirus struck, and
the Olympics were pushed back to the summer of 2021. As the coronavirus
spread, Japan's economy was on the edge of a recession as a result of a drop in
Chinese demand for Japanese exports and lower consumer spending.
Despite the fact that the state of emergency has been lifted in 39 of
Japan's 47 prefectures as of May 2020, the country's economic outlook remains
dismal. The country's economy would fall by 5.6 percent in the fiscal year ending
March 2021, according to Reuters. The emergency directives, however, were
repeated in the summer and fall of 2021, when a second wave of Delta-linked
infections and hospitalizations swept the country, with an even higher record
incidence than in 2020.
In the spring, the Japanese government adopted a $1 trillion stimulus
package, and the Bank of Japan increased its stimulus measures for the second
month in a row. Then-Prime Minister Abe continued to champion spending
measures aimed at reducing the pandemic's economic impact. His successor,
Kishida, has agreed to continue with Abe's spending plan, but he has
acknowledged the need for future adaptation.

The 2020 (2021) Olympic Games, Though the COVID epidemic delayed
the games until the summer of 2021, the negative economic impact of having the
Olympics on Japan's economy became much more severe, eventually reaching
tens of billions of dollars. Cost overruns for new buildings and infrastructure
renovations, an Olympic bid that was likely too expensive to begin with, and a
lack of spectators all contributed to these games being one of the worst financial
mistakes in Olympic history.
Because to the Delta variant COVID surge, tourism revenue did not
materialize as expected, and some Olympians were disqualified or forced to
withdraw from the games for testing positive. Cost overruns for new facilities and
infrastructure renovations, an Olympic bid that was likely overvalued to begin
with, and a lack of spectators all contributed to its being one of the costliest
Olympic games in history.
As a result of the Delta type COVID surge, tourism revenue did not
materialize as expected, and some Olympians were banned or forced to
withdraw from the games after testing positive.

Immigration the solution to Japan’s population problem, Japan's most

important concern is its demographic quandary. Japan's population has been
falling since 2010. In 2015, it appeared that the population was declining at a rate
of 270,000 people per year.
According to the National Institute of Population and Social Security
Research, further reductions are on the way. The population is expected to
shrink by 6.2 million in the 2020s, 8.2 million in the 2030s, and 9 million in the
2040s, marking a drop-off greater than Tokyo experiences every two decades.
Japan’s ageing society and diminishing birth rate are also of concern.
The elderly accounted for 26 per cent of the country’s population in 2014
and those aged 80 years or older exceeded 10 million in 2015. At the same time,
the number of births in 2016 fell below one million for the first time since statistics
have been collected.
There is also a growing need for professionals to provide nursing care for
this burgeoning elderly population, with demand expected to exceed supply by
370,000 caregivers in 2025. With a reduced workforce, the unemployment rate in
July 2017 stood at a historical low of 2.8 per cent.
 Teikoku Databank has also announced that bankruptcies due to labor
shortages in the first half of 2017 were up by 290 per cent from four years ago.
The economic impacts of the labor shortage are becoming apparent.

Sales Tax Hike, aside from the epidemic, Japanese consumers will face a
hike in sales tax from 8% to 10% beginning in October 2019. The government
increased the sales tax to fund social welfare programs such as preschool
education as well as to lower the nation's massive public debt. Increased sales
taxes, of course, induce people to spend less.
As a result, in order to mitigate the negative effects on spending, the
government enacted policies such as incentives for specified items made using
electronic payments. Customers were eligible to a 5% rebate on purchases made
using electronic payments at certain smaller merchants, offsetting out the 2% tax
rise. According to the administration, the incentives were also designed to
increase electronic payments and diminish the country's reliance on cash.
Increased sales taxes, of course, induce people to spend less.
As a result, in order to mitigate the negative effects on spending, the
government enacted policies such as incentives for specified items made using
electronic payments. Customers were eligible to a 5% rebate on purchases made
using electronic payments at certain smaller merchants, offsetting out the 2% tax
rise. According to the administration, the incentives were also designed to
increase electronic payments and diminish the country's reliance on cash.

Dwindling Exports, Japan's exports, such as electronic equipment and

auto parts, have suffered a drop in global demand. Japan is heavily reliant on
exports, and several of its most well-known corporations, including Toyota and
Honda, have witnessed a decline in global sales.
Coronavirus bans have had a substantial impact on global consumer
demand. Japanese enterprises are falling behind because they rely on worldwide
demand. According to Deloitte Insights, Japan's exports and industrial output are
inextricably linked. According to Deloitte, "manufactured goods exports
plummeted 23.8 percent year on year in May, while manufacturing production fell
25.9 percent over the same period”.
Unfortunately, the rebound in global demand that Japanese businesses so
desperately need does not look to be coming anytime soon. Tourism is an
essential part of the Japanese economy, but it has suffered as a result of the
pandemic, which has driven away foreign visitors. A wave of protectionism
threatens to diminish global trade volumes, casting doubt on Japan's foreign
trade prospects. In addition, geopolitical tensions have risen, putting Japanese
exports and foreign direct investments at risk.

Traffic Congestion Problems & Improvement in the Tokyo Capital Region,

Tokyo's transportation infrastructure has deteriorated as a result of the city's
dense population. The Metropolitan Commuting Area, which comprises a 50-
kilometer radius around Tokyo Station and includes the Tokyo Area, is home to
almost 27 million people.
We can still see polarization rather than counter-urbanization in this
district. Congestion on both roads and trains remains unresolved. Following a
discussion of the history of the urban transportation problem and a reference to
Japan's transportation institutional framework, various approaches for reducing
congestion are proposed. The effects of regional decentralization and traffic
volume equilibration are studied in the short run.
Long-term transportation infrastructure improvements are centered on
high-quality ring-roads and commuter railways. In the case of railways, we
concentrate on the Henry George Theorem and the reserving money method for
major city urban railway improvement. Furthermore, additional research is being
sought from the standpoint of the so-called Tokyo Problem.
To alleviate urban traffic congestion, a land-use deregulation program and
broad transfers of responsibility from the central government are also advocated.
 Mobility perspective for a local city in Japan, Japan is currently facing a
decline in population and an aging society. Over the previous 50 years, the
country's significant reliance on automobiles has influenced road development
methods as well as the construction of urban structures centered on automobile
traffic. Japan is currently experiencing severe mobility issues, particularly among
the elderly. This is especially evident in the country's smaller towns and cities.
Solutions to improve mobility can be found in three areas: public transportation
promotion, bicycles, and compact cities.
Transportation is a problem in aging societies. As individuals age, they
require new forms of mobility, particularly alternatives to driving. Trains and
buses can commonly replace private autos, but even in Japan, which is famed
for its extensive and efficient public transportation system, service is far from
universal. The need to bridge "mobility gaps" for the elderly is especially evident
in rural areas, where people are significantly older than the national average and
traditional routes of public transportation are scarcer. Societies around the world
are aging at unprecedented rates as individuals live longer lives and have fewer
children. Japan is on the cutting edge of this trend: by 2050, one-third of the
population will be 65 or older, up from a world-leading 25% today.
Utsunomiya City, a regional capital that relies primarily on automotive
transportation, is plagued by severe traffic congestion, a high rate of traffic
accidents, large carbon dioxide emissions, and urban sprawl. In order to realize
its long-term goal of being a sustainable city, it established a radical
transportation policy. Utsunomiya City was a pioneer in implementing a new light
rail transportation (LRT) system. At the present, the prospect of constructing
Japan's first modern LRT system appears enticing. This article analyzes the
history of LRT development efforts, including major actors' conditions and
backgrounds, as well as people's perspectives. It also intends to address the
numerous problems and challenges that the city must address in order to fulfill its
goal of becoming Japan's first city to construct a new LRT.
Bicycles, which are a simple and inexpensive mode of transportation all
over the world, are another solution to over-reliance on automobiles. However,
automobile-oriented transportation and urban policy have long reigned in Japan,
leaving the bicycle in the dust. Nonetheless, the bicycle has gained favor in
recent years as a healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to the automobile,
notably in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Since
2003, Utsunomiya City has vigorously pursued a bicycle mobility policy and is
widely regarded as a pioneer in its development. The potential success of
Utsunomiya in overcoming its reliance on automobiles will serve as a model for
several local cities in Japan dealing with similar difficulties.

The Bottom Line: Outlook for Japan, the global epidemic, as it has for
most other countries' economies, means that Japan's short-term prospects are
grim. In addition, tensions are building between Japan and China over disputed
islands in the East China Sea, where prior skirmishes have ended in anti-
Japanese riots and boycotts.
Despite tensions with China and being the first of the world's top three
economies to enter a recession, the country appears to be performing better than
other major economies. Overall, Japan's government have provided appropriate
fiscal and monetary stimulus to cushion the reduction in demand and aid the
economy during the worst periods of the pandemic.
Consumer spending, on the other hand, will remain low as long as the
pandemic's hazards persist. Manufacturers will continue to experience difficulties
as a result of weak global demand, a strong currency, and geopolitical
uncertainty. The Japanese economy should develop from here, although at a
slow pace.

Issues/Challenges/Current trends

Issues in Japan

One of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history was the Great East
Japan Earthquake. The devastation was widespread, with the prefectures of
Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima bearing the worst of it. We explore the health
consequences of disaster victims in Iwate Prefecture in this work by reporting on
the damage and the impact of the harm.

The tsunami killed 4659 people in Iwate Prefecture and left 1633 persons
missing. In addition to power, water, and gas being cut off as a result of the
tragedy, communication services were paralyzed, and gasoline was scarce.
Medical and public health teams from Iwate Prefecture and around the country
participated in a wide range of public health operations, especially in evacuation
centers, including medical and mental health treatment as well as infectious
disease prevention.
Considering the enormous number of fatalities, there were very few
people who needed medical attention for significant injuries. However, there were
significant medical needs in the evacuation facilities' subacute and chronic
stages of care, with a high demand for medical treatment and public health aid,
infection control measures, and mental health care.

As Japan continues to experience a severe labor shortage, a revised

immigration law went into effect in April, allowing over 300,000 foreigners to get
work permits in fields like as farming, fishing, and nursing. Previously, Japan
would only accept highly skilled foreign workers; blue-collar foreign workers were
required to apply for visas as interns or students.
Separately, the government maintained the "Foreign Technical Intern
Training Program," which binds workers to their sponsoring firms without the
option of leaving them, in order to attract more foreign workers, many of whom
are from Southeast Asia.
Human rights breaches have been leveled against the program, including
the payment of sub-minimum wages, illegal overtime, the forced repatriation of
whistleblowers to their home countries, and unsafe or unsanitary working
conditions. According to the Justice Ministry, 171 "trainees" died between 2012
and 2017, 17 of whom committed suicide.

Challenges in Japan
 Japan is a vibrant liberal democracy with the world's third largest economy
and a vibrant civil society. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a
strong majority in an upper house election in July. However, the LDP and its
allies fell short of the two-thirds majority required to pursue Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe's key political goal of altering Japan's postwar pacifist constitution.

In November, Abe became Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

Following the high-profile arrest of former Renault and Nissan CEO Carlos
Ghosn in November 2018 for alleged financial misconduct, Japan's long-
overlooked "hostage" justice system received renewed attention, in which
criminal suspects are held for long periods of time in harsh conditions to coerce a
confession.

There is no law in Japan that outlaws’ discrimination based on race,

ethnicity, or religion, as well as discrimination based on sexual orientation or
gender identity. Every year, it accepts a very small number of refugees, most of
whom are from Asia. Japan has no national human rights institutions.

COVID 19 – Pandemic, As COVID-19 spread across Asia Pacific in

December 2019, internet media coverage of the pandemic and its effects on
countries, businesses, society, and individuals increased. Coverage of
influencers and the influencer industry was prominent among these discourses,
which is likely due to the fact that many of the issues arising from COVID-19
consequences and contingencies in general – such as digitalization, advertising,
precarious income, and public messaging and misinformation – are cornerstones
of this digital economy.
In this vein, the goal of this essay is to examine and map out the
landscape of issues and tensions documented and promoted by news coverage
of influencers and the influencer industry during COVID-19. The article
specifically draws on a corpus of online news articles published between January
and May 2020, with a focus on coverage of markets in Australia, China, Japan,
and South Korea; these articles were generally pitched to local audiences and
published in the following order: English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.
Academic research in Japan has mostly focused on the role of social
media and influencers in the aftermath of natural disasters such as the 2011
Tsunami (Hashimoto and Ohama, 2014; Tsubokura et al., 2018).
According to a study on the dissemination of scientific information on
Twitter, the vast majority of tweets about the nuclear disaster were created by a
small group of influencers, who have since been designated as significant
collaborators for disseminating credible information to the general public
(Tsubokura et al., 2018: 2).
We can see an alternative approach to Japanese social media research in
the work of anthropologist Gabriella Lukács (2020), as her study explored
different categories of female influencers – for example, net idols and bloggers –
calling attention to the processes of value extraction that have affected women in
the Japanese digital economy.
Prior to COVID-19, the Japanese digital economy had benefited from a
variety of do-it-yourself (DIY) online vocations via various platform economies
since the 2000s (Steinberg, 2019), despite the fact that the vocabulary of the
'influencer' was only established much later. Freelance commercial influencers
and actors are a critical economic resource for Japanese digital platforms. For
example, nearly JPY22 billion was spent on influencer marketing in 2018. (Digital
In Fact, 2019).
YouTube led the way with a 39 percent market share, followed by
Instagram (27 percent) and blogging/microblogging platforms (including Twitter;
23 percent) (Digital in Fact, 2019) - a distribution that demonstrates the growing
dominance of visual platforms over traditional textual formats.

Death Penalty, In December 2018, Japan executed two death row

prisoners for murder and robbery. Two more men were hung for murder and
robbery in August of this year. Anti-death penalty advocates have long expressed
concern about death row inmates having insufficient access to legal counsel,
being informed of their execution only on the day of execution, and some being
executed after their lawyers filed a retrial request.

Women’s Rights, Protests erupted across Japan this year in response to a

slew of rape acquittals. A judge acquitted a father accused of raping his 19-year-
old daughter, despite the fact that the sex was consensual and that the father
had been physically and sexually abusing the girl since she was younger.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, In January, the Supreme Court

ruled that the Gender Identification Disorder Special Cases Act of 2004, which
required transgender people to be sterilized in order to obtain documents
reflecting their gender identity, was constitutional. The court stated that there is a
"need to avoid abrupt changes in a society where the distinction of men and
women has long been based on biological gender," but it also stated that the law
is only constitutional "at this time," and in their concurring opinion, two justices of
the four-judge bench acknowledged the need to reform Japanese law.
In the first judicial challenge of its kind in Japan, many same-sex couples
filed lawsuits against the government in various locations in February, disputing
the legitimacy of not recognizing same-sex marriage. In May, parliament passed
supplementary resolutions requiring the government to include the prevention of
Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) harassment and outing—exposing
someone's LGBT identity without permission—in the upcoming guidelines for
corporations dealing with superior workplace harassment.
However, the administration's proposed rules, announced in October, did
not include SOGI harassment, as required by the Diet's extra resolutions. The
criteria were still being contested at the time of publication.

Children’s Rights, In June, the Diet, Japan's parliament, altered rules to

make it illegal for parents and other guardians to use corporal punishment on
their children. Following a number of fatal cases of abuse in the name of
discipline, the law has initiated a review process to offer measures to protect
children's rights.

Refugees, The Japanese asylum and refugee assessment system

remains staunchly opposed to granting refugee status. In 2018, the Justice
Ministry received 10,493 applications for refugee status, the most majority of
which originated in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. The ministry categorized 42
people as refugees and 40 asylum seekers as in need of humanitarian
assistance, allowing them to remain in Japan. In October, a group of lawyers filed
a lawsuit against the government's immigration custody practices, which do not
require incarceration and can persist for years, with the United Nations Working
Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Current Trend

Traditional Washi Paper: From Japan to the World

Washi is a traditional Japanese paper that has been utilized in Japanese

daily life since ancient times, in items such as shoji sliding doors and lanterns.
Because of the way it softens the quality of the light and sound that goes through
it and moderates the room temperature, washi can be used to create a subtle
atmosphere in rooms. Not only that, but washi is extremely durable - we still have
documents written on washi from 1000 years ago!

Aim to Become a Future Creator at an Anime Production School

Japan's anime is well-known all around the world. Many individuals are
lured to Japan by the wide range of Anime and come there to visit the country.
Japan is an Anime powerhouse, but did you know it also has a plethora of
institutions where you may learn all you need to know to work in Anime in the
future? This article investigates universities that educate Anime producers and
other professionals in the Anime business.

Shokupan Bread: Japan's Unique, High-End Take on a Staple Food

Bread arrived in Japan for the first time in 1543. It is thought that the
Portuguese, who also introduced guns to Japan about the same period, were the
first to bring it over. However, it wasn't until much later that Japanese people
began to eat it on a regular basis. At the end of the nineteenth century, crafters
from Britain (a supporter of Japan's Meiji regime) began to make loaves of bread
in baking tins. This sort of bread is known as shokupan in Japan.
The 2020 (2021) Olympic Games

Though the COVID epidemic delayed the games until the summer of
2021, the negative economic impact of having the Olympics on Japan's economy
became much more severe, eventually reaching tens of billions of dollars. Cost
overruns for new buildings and infrastructure renovations, an Olympic bid that
was likely too expensive to begin with, and a lack of spectators all contributed to
these games being one of the worst financial mistakes in Olympic history.
Because to the Delta variant COVID surge, tourism revenue did not materialize
as expected, and some Olympians were disqualified or forced to withdraw from
the games for testing positive. Cost overruns for new facilities and infrastructure
renovations, an Olympic bid that was likely overvalued to begin with, and a lack
of spectators all contributed to its being one of the costliest Olympic games in
history. As a result of the Delta type COVID surge, tourism revenue did not
materialize as expected, and some Olympians were banned or forced to
withdraw from the games after testing positive.
 CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATION

This article discusses a number of concerns, challenges, and current

developments that are pertinent to our country, the Philippines. At the outset of
this assessment, Japan was dealing with a number of challenges, including an
enumerative issue, a COVID 19 pandemic that swept across Asia Pacific in
December 2019, and a current trend, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. During this
pandemic, we can motivate younger people, or millennials, to take action by
educating them through social media. Because this topic, concerns, and current
trend have an impact on all students' learning.

Remind ourselves that in the face of this pandemic, we must remain

resilient. Perform some precise procedures in order to avoid covid 19 and learn
more about how we may protect ourselves from any type of disaster. Also, make
certain that we are ready for everything.
 REFERENCES

https://in-japan.education/facts-about-education-in-japan/

https://trid.trb.org/view/290714

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://
www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/10/26/immigration-the-solution-to-japans-population-
problem/
&ved=2ahUKEwjUlfOnnKf0AhUsp1YBHa8CBQMQFnoECAMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1vG
WUnmJUPgCCI7PUti30j

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1329878X20959838

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3729067/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/001654929505400302

https://www.thoughtco.com/japan-facts-and-history-195581

https://www.thoughtco.com/japanese-aggression-in-world-war-ii-195806

https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/interesting-facts-about-japanese-school-system/

hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/japan?
fbclid=IwAR13POUVbI4yowGqhZtEWoXZiIyv097XBSAsakNAnloKu3Y06gWWx3t9_OM
#

https://web-japan.org/trends/?
fbclid=IwAR2QIDgC0qgEz4PnHc7jicz61YvY9BKV16BVabzUw56VLTWGPlfgPdkdJEU

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111214000168