Introducing Japanese contemporary culture and society to a Yeungnam University group visiting Kansai University. On Day 1, traditional Japanese culture was introduced to the students from South Korea; this is Day 2, 15 January 2016. The author is a lecturer for the Kansai University Division of International Affairs, other universities, and the Japanese government international agency JICA.

1. 1

2.  Regions of Japan today (photos)
 Population issues
 Foreigners in Japan
 Economic issues
 Energy issues
 International Marriage & Bilingualism
 Jenkins-Soga family example
 Fun quiz
 Conclusion / Q&A

3. Fuji japan by Travelbusy.com, 2012, CC BY 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/da5BdG

4. OSAKA
Big Issue Stall – Osaka Station by GanMed64,
2011, CC BY 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/aGkhiz

5. HIROSHIMA: Peace Memorial by
Stripy T-Shirt, 2004, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://flic.kr/p/2fuzj
NORTHEAST JAPAN
earthquake/tsunami:
Volunteer at Kesencho,
Rikuzentakata by Hajime
Nakano, 2011, CC BY 2.0
https://flic.kr/p/aGC8ia

6. SHIKOKU island
DSCF0752.JPG by Kazu Letokyoite, 2007,
CC BY 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/LcWcC

8. Demographic shift, its reasons, & difficulty of solutions
“6 out of 10 respondents said the biggest reason for
having fewer children than they really want is that
‘it costs too much money to raise & educate children’.”
From https://japanforum.nbr.org/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1307&L=list&F=&S=&P=70494

9. Does not include 30,000 US soldiers & illegal immigrants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_issues_in_Japan

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koreans_in_Japan

11. Japan and the global economy
 Stable cost of living, saving vs. consuming
 Working conditions, part-timers increasing
 International trade, exports vs. imports
 Distribution of wealth, social safety net
 Inflation policy and consumption tax increase
 Deflation vs. inflation: Who benefits from which?
 Overseas Development Assistance

12. http://nbakki.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/06/20/125616

13. Weakened yen & purchasing power
“The yen has fallen nearly 25% against the US dollar since
November 2012, as policymakers unveiled a series of aggressive
measures to revive growth.”
“A weak yen has its advantages as well, the biggest one being that
it makes Japanese goods cheaper for foreign buyers. That helps to
boost exports - one of the key drivers of Japan's economic growth.”
“… shipments from Japan rose 12.2% in July, from a year ago,
the fastest pace of growth since December 2010.”
“Exports to China, Japan's biggest trading partner, rose by 9.5%
from a year earlier, compared with 4.7% growth in June.”
“Meanwhile shipments to the US jumped by 18.5% from a
year ago, up from a 14.6% rise in the previous month.”
BBC News, 19 August 2013, from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23751029

14. Abenomics: 3 arrows of monetary, fiscal, and structural policy.
It has started mostly by having the central Bank of Japan print
more money, weakening the yen. Are leaders giving up on the
real economy in favor of financialization, or will fiscal stimulus
work, and will structural reforms overcome special interests?

15. https://hbr.org/2015/12/getting-to-si-ja-oui-hai-and-da

16. http://nbakki.hatenablog.com/entry/Annual_Salary_by_Prefecture

18. Japan still depends on imported non-renewable energy.
Increased fossil fuel consumption since 2011 nuclear shutdowns.

23. http://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00096/

24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koreans_in_Japan

25. Japanese Society
 Maintaining traditional customs while
wanting the latest attractions
 Society and people’s values change
very gradually
 Japanese people are reserved
 The Lonely Crowd
 Difficult to meet strangers