tiredofsametab

My two cents with a decade in Japan under my belt:

• work-life balance needs to be fixed (there are recent laws helping this, but not enough enforcement)
• sexism in work (salary gap and gap in leadership is one of the highest in the world)
• do more based on merit than seniority in a number of areas
• more jobs and good universities need to be moved outside of the big city centers; daycare availability is a HUGE problem for people I know with kids or looking to have them (whereas in the countryside where I live, they have free daycare slots available but far fewer jobs and opportunities). This would involve some investment in infra to make things happen as well
• better investment in education and some revamping of the education system; kids are almost never held back here and once they get into uni it's often seen as a free ride to graduation at many schools; this is not the best system for producing the best innovators and Japan needs innovation
• better progress toward digitization; we're woefully behind the times even as many are dragged, kicking and screaming, into more things being online. I still have to send faxes and postal mail to accomplish many things relating to government and taxes. This has a number of costs such as taking time off work to accomplish things in person. Banks are also only open 9-3 M-F with some occasionally having weekend hours. Same with all but an area's "main" post office and other things that just eat into that work-life balance problem by requiring use of time off.
• better education in and participation in government and civics; very few people vote in Japan and I'd like to see that change as I think more engagement would help the people better determine what is best for their future.

Edit to add that the above excludes anything related to immigration as I don't really know the right answer/balance there; the above are things that could help immediately without as much handwaving about "destroying our cultural values!" that some complain about by suggesting such daring things as married Japanese couples having separate surnames (illegal in Japan; if both are Japanese, they must unify to one name).

Edit 2: just saw this elsewhere talking about some changes coming: https://leglobal.law/countries/japan/looking-ahead-2025-japan/

One also can't even get a working visa to work some place like a cleaner or convenience store; those people are all on: student with parttime job permit; spouse/family/dependent; PR; and working holiday visas.

Source? I live in Japan and have no idea what you're referring to here. Japan already has its share of xenophobic fuckwits, particularly the old right-wing guys, but I don't think people are generally trending that way. The one exception might be people living in places inundated with tourists who are tired of that aspect.

Seconding as someone in Japan

Many places allow two visits totalling 180 days, but I'm not personally aware of any one-shot half-year. That's also largely on the waiver program and immigration is not obligated to let one into the country if it looks like they're trying to actually live there (visa runs for a couple days used to be a huge problem here).

In some contexts intentionally yes, in some accidentally yes, and in others absolutely not. I've been in Japan 10 years.

Vacation > Student Visa > Work Visa > Spouse Visa > PR application in place (in my specific case)

Doesn't help what? Dealing with the systemic issues of work culture, sexism, etc. would be a good start to helping.

I really liked unless in perl; especially as I get older !length or something makes that bang really easy to miss. I use !(length) or something instead to visually set it aside. unless made this much more visually clear.

I'd hold out for Norway or Finland; have you SEEN the Danish language?! ducks

Thanks for some context!

So if that's valid, could some states get bought by other countries? Hell, I bet many residents in some states would pay to have it be part of a different country.