Travelogue - Japan, or On the Wealth of Nations

Last winter I took a trip to Japan to visit my friend from high school. We had a really incredible time and their stories left me thinking about a lot of things, including how much money a country has and how that influences a people's way of living.
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[@ynnej42]

Hi! Los Angeles-based Japanologist here ^^
First of all, I really liked the videos of yours I've watched so far. Good job, keep it up!
And I think the way you approach your topics (such as this one) shows that you are a very insightful person.
Since I've been thinking about this comparison between the wealth of countries a lot lately as well, I thought I might give my insights here.
As you have already mentioned, Japan is still a rich country and publicly presents itself as such, but is not exactly as rich as it was 30 years ago (at least in comparison to the US for example). However, what I want to emphasize is that looking at economic growth as the essential key to a rich and thriving society tends to be a little over simplistic. Actually, Japan has had a lot of monetary resources and funds for urban development even after the burst of the 80s bubble. There is a reason why Japan has the largest government debt in the world. In some cases, the funds have been employed very well. The healthcare system and city infrastructures are prime examples. However, as you have noticed, it did not reach all areas of public need. This is not only due to a tight state budget. Rather, we can see the deterioration of infrastructure in the countryside or the soaring prices of mobility outside of main metropolitan areas as a failing of several complicated political and economic forces that have driven the Japanese market ever since the 1950s. Or why else would the rather small Kansai area have three large airports while the Kantō area which is double in population size (which doesn't account for the enormous business and tourist air traffic) only has two? Or why have they built three enormous bridges connecting Honshū with Shikoku when one would have been enough, considering there are so much more important expenditures like, as you noted, updating their communication infrastructure? (I'm sick of always having to send letters whenever I want some official stuff to be done)
One possible explanation is that industries such as the construction industry were an important pump-priming tool in the post-war economy that became so entangled with the political system (google iron triangle to learn more) that Japan just couldn't break loose from this endless spiral of debt by pumping money into the industry in hopes of one day incentivize spending enough to effectively propel the economy forward again.
There is much more behind it than just economic stagnation. Even though the stagnation played a decisive part in the way things played out, it is not the original reason for the way public development has been shaped in the last three decades.
When I compare this to the US, which has been the top economic force for decades now, I see a very similar pattern emerge where an iron triangle can dictate the flow of public money. What I have seen and experienced in LA, however, is more shocking than anything I have ever seen in Japan. Public transportation is a disaster, healthcare is unattainable for many, social and economic disparity is larger than in any place I've ever seen, there is trash everywhere in the streets, poorer neighborhoods are literally falling apart because the buildings and streets are in such bad shape, it's not safe to go out alone at night, housing and food prices are horrendous, and don't get me started on all the people living in the streets. In short, it is utterly shocking. I am more than willing to accommodate the negative aspects of Japan's social spendings like having to mail letters by hand or over-paying for a shinkansen ride than having to deal with whatever dystopian nightmare is going on here in LA (and many other places in the US).
What I have noticed while living here is that you get everything and more when you are from a middle-class or higher household. You can live in a nice neighborhood, and have literally anything delivered to you by a day or even just a few hours. In a very real sense, many Americans have more than most. But behind that pretty facade, the US is falling apart. It is heartbreaking, really. And no economic growth in the world can prevent that.
The quality of life of the population of a country is not necessarily defined by the GDP. There is so, so, so much more to it.
It is very important to know how you're privileged or how your county could improve, and the self-reflection and motivation to learn about comparative socioeconomy that you show in your video is exemplary.
However, the wealth of a society cannot only be accomplished by economic growth but the generated money also needs to be channelled into the right direction. Similarly, the wealth of a nation is not only its total capital but the combined quality of life of its citizens (take that, Adam Smith 😂).
I hope my thoughts are in any way helpful to you. Good luck with your next videos! 🍀

[@chloeeastwood6696]

Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful reply! I honestly couldn't agree more with all of this. There's a speech by RFK that argues that GDP can measure everything about America except for what it means to be an American, for example, the strength of our marriages and the joy in our children's play. I like this because the wealth of a nation does not necessarily mean that the average person is well off. A lot of important information can be obscured behind gdp or even median incomes and wealth. Thank you so much, again, for your thoughts!