Japan - 86.55
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The nation dying the slowest death
While it may not seem so on the surface, Japan is a country in dire straits. The country has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, as acknowledged by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The population has not grown since 2007. Japan’s youth and young adults are in the grips of an unprecendented mental health crisis. The Japanese economy, while it has demonstrated consistent, if slow, growth, lacks mobility and prospects for young Japanese. Unless government policy drastically changes course, Japan’s future is not bright. As the population continues to age, more and more of the country will focus on caring for the growing number of elderly until the country can no longer function. While such an apocalyptic outcome is not likely, the country is certainly trending in that direction. Also of concern was the Japanese court system, which operated under the bizarre assumption that the police would only arrest the guilty. Japanese courts overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the prosecution. Despite this, the country remains committed to human rights, the economy is strong, and the Japanese people are some of the healthiest in the world. To have accomplished what the Japanese have in such a large country as densely populated as Japan is not to be scoffed at. While Japan is on a downward trajectory today, its fate is not sealed, and the right leadership could turn the country in the right direction.
Human Rights - 82
Japan retains the death penalty and carried out its last execution in December 2021. The Japanese court system functions under a twisted modification of the philosophy of “innocent until proven guilty;” the courts assume that the police would not detain a suspect unless they were very confident that the suspect was guilty. This results in the courts ruling guilty an overwhelming majority of the time, approximately 99.8% of the time. The conviction rate in Japan is higher than most authoritarian regimes and undoubtedly results in large numbers of innocents being convicted. Korean schools faced some discrimination in the distribution of COVID aid equipment. Several Korean schools in Saitama were denied shipments of masks granted to other schools. Trans Japanese can change legal gender after sex reassignment surgery. Certain Japanese cities have discrimination protections but there are no national discrimination protections for LGBT. The government plans to legalize same-sex civil unions in 2022 but currently, there is no recognition of same-sex couples. Same-sex couples cannot adopt. Abortion is legal to preserve the physical, mental, and financial health of the woman and in cases of rape. Spousal authorization is required when applicable.
Democracy - 94
Japan is a constitutional empire, limiting its score to 95. The prime minister, who holds most executive power, is chosen by the Diet, Japan’s directly elected bicameral legislature. Elections are free and fair with a strong multi-party system. The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan for much of the postwar period but peaceful transfers of power happen regularly.
Freedom - 88
The post-war Japanese constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Japan has an as-of-yet unenforced law with broad provisions allowing the government to punish whistleblowers. The 2014 Amendment to the Broadcast Act allows the government to prosecute journalists for revealing state secrets. This law also gives the government the right to determine what is “fair” to broadcast. All drugs are illegal in Japan with steep sentences. The cultivation of hemp, which is used in certain traditional Japanese clothes, is legal but strictly regulated. Gun ownership is very strictly regulated in Japan. Bolt-action rifles and shotguns are legal for hunting and sport shooting but permits are very difficult to obtain and guns are strictly regulated.
Economy - 85
Health - 100
Japan has a life expectancy of 84 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.16%. 4.3% of Japanese are obese and 2.5% are malnourished. Healthcare in Japan is provided by a network of private hospitals and paid for through a complex semi-universal system. Mandatory health insurance is usually provided by employers, but when it isn’t people can apply for non-comprehensive government-provided health insurance. Procedure and medication cost is subsidized and regulated by the government, resulting in a system that provides cheaper care than in countries without universal health insurance and more expensive care than in countries with universal health insurance. All Japanese have access to clean, running water.
Corruption - 99
Overt corruption is incredibly low in Japan. Outright corruption (such as bribery) is virtually unheard of. Companies (especially large automakers) have very tight patronage networks and are known to engage in non-competitive practices with one another. Certain companies are known to receive preferential treatment from the government, namely large automakers and industrial firms.
Competency - 95
japan is failing to ensure fair trials.
Future - 33
The Japanese population has not grown since 2007 and has been shrinking since 2010. Japan’s death rate is higher than its birthrate and the country continues to age. After attempts to increase the birthrate have repeatedly failed, the country must loosen immigration laws in order for its population to stop shrinking. The Japanese economy has been very slow growing for the average citizen, resulting in a feeling of lack of prospects. This has contributed to the country facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Successive governments have failed to rectify these problems, and it will likely take an extended effort to correct these systemic issues.
Actions Abroad - 81
Japan officially does not maintain a military, but the Japan Self-Defense Force is military in all but name. Japan is part of NATO’s broader outreach program, being described as a “natural partner.” Japan maintains a navy base in Djibouti and carries out joint anti-piracy campaigns with NATO troops from the United States, France, and Italy. Japan maintains very close relations with the United States, with the United States and Japan investing very heavily in one another and the United States maintains several military bases in Japan. Japan has refused to recognize the Nanking Massacre as such and has been reluctant to apologize to South Korea over comfort women, resulting in somewhat strained relations between the two countries as a result. Japan, South Korea, and China all lay claim to various useless rocks in the East China Sea, with the rocks being under the de facto control of no country. Stemming both from these various disputes and growing mutual distrust Japan’s relationship with South Korea has deteriorated. Japan and Russia both lay claim to the Kuril Islands, which are under the de facto control of Russia and are primarily home to ethnic Russians. Japan claims that the islands were stolen from them in violation of various treaties, the ethnic Japanese population was forcibly relocated, and ethnic Russians were shipped in against their will to replace them. Japan does not recognize the independence of the DPRK from South Korea. Japan has refused to outlaw whaling for non-indigenous groups, drawing ire from environmental groups and various other countries.
0.7% of Japanese live under the international poverty line and 15.7% live under the national poverty line. 2.57% of Japanese are unemployed. Japan has a low economic disparity. The minimum wage in Japan is $8.40 per hour. japan maintains a complex semi-universal healthcare system. Healthcare is provided through a network of private hospitals that are world-renowned for their quality of care. Insurance is mandatory and usually provided by employers. People who lack insurance provided by their employer can apply for non-comprehensive government-provided health insurance. Costs of procedures and medications are heavily subsidized and regulated by the government, resulting in healthcare that is cheaper than in countries without universal healthcare but more expensive than in those with it. The Japanese economy shrunk 4.8% in 2020 and grew 0.3% in 2019.