|
【Why Students Stay Away 2】
Even Japan’s so-called elite universities struggle to attract students from around the world. Why is that? There are two major reasons. Reason #1: Weak Pathways to Employment and Long-Term Residency We covered this in the previous blog post. Reason #2: Low Wages GDP per capita is commonly used as an indicator of a country’s productivity. Broadly speaking, it’s also said to reflect the average annual income across all professions. After all, when per-person productivity is low, it naturally limits how much employers can pay in wages. Consider the following data: 2024 GDP per capita (global ranking):
Japan’s figure is now less than 40% of the US. Within Asia:
Japan now trails behind all of them. Most troubling of all, Japan is on a clear downward trajectory. At the height of its economic power in 1990:
Over the past 35 years, aside from Singapore’s dramatic rise, it feels less like other countries have surged ahead and more like Japan has fallen sharply behind. As a side note, Singapore’s remarkable growth coincides with the fact that roughly 47% of its population consists of immigrants--a point that aligns with the importance of inclusive experience. Even during it’s economic peak, Japan could hardly be described as fully “advanced” especially in terms of immigrant/refugee acceptance, or broader human rights and humanitarian standards. Now, after three and a half “lost decades” following the collapse of the economic bubble, even Japan’s once-reliable economic strength has declined to the point where we can no longer call it an “advanced country.” It’s only natural that students around the world hesitate to gather in a place where productivity and wages are in long-term decline. This dynamic is not unique to Japan. A similar pattern can be observed within the US. The Trump administration promotes the slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), and its strongest support comes from conservative rural regions. Yet very few students around the world dream of moving to the US to work in rural agriculture, forestry, mining, or oil industries. Instead, most are drawn to overwhelmingly liberal urban centers--Silicon Valley, Wall Street, cutting-edge medical research, and the entertainment industry. Trump MAGA’s internal contradiction is clear: the movement that seeks to dismantle liberal openness undermines the very condition that makes America great. The more open a society is, the more it attracts students from around the world. The more closed it becomes, the more they stay away. The data below shows the number of Japanese and American universities ranked in the global top 50 across four major world university rankings. While we should treat these rankings as only a reference point, looking at all four provides a broad perspective. The four major rankings are:
(Note: There’s currently no globally influential university ranking published from Japan) Global Top 50 (number of schools):
These rankings reinforce the broader pattern: the US attracts students from around the world while Japan not so much. Japan struggles to attract students from abroad because of:
The consequences are cyclical, making it difficult to create an inclusive environment.
And so the cycle repeats. At the end of this vicious spiral lies persistent decline. In the next post, we’ll examine this issue further in light of Japan’s general election results a few weeks ago. Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (6)【Why Students Stay Away 1】 Read Theme: Inclusive Diversity 【Why Students Stay Away 1】
The central reason why Japan, Tokyo, and rural America remain strikingly conservative, while urban America is overwhelmingly liberal: differences in inclusive experiences. Below are comparisons of student demographics at colleges considered to be the most selective in the US and Japan. Foreign Nationals and Immigrants
The University of Tokyo’s 16% is the highest proportion of international students among the top universities in Japan. Data on immigrant students is virtually nonexistent, largely because their numbers are so small. [See Previous] Knowing these facts or not, comments like the following are common: “Instead of admitting foreigners, UTokyo should accept more Japanese students.” What’s even more striking is that such claims are sometimes made by people who themselves--or whose children--have benefited from studying abroad in countries like the US, where international students are actively welcomed. Yet the data speaks for itself. In reality, even Japan’s so-called elite universities attract relatively few students from around the world. While this could be taken to imply limited effort, information released by the universities suggests otherwise: they are, in fact, making serious attempts to attract international students. So why don’t students want to study abroad in Japan? There are two major reasons. Let’s start with the first. -------------------- Reason #1: Weak Pathways to Employment and Long-Term Residency Universities that attract students from around the world place great importance on inclusive education and environments. This inclusivity extends beyond academics to include clear pathways into post-graduation life: employment and long-term residency. Today’s college students are intensely focused on life after graduation, so they’re likely to choose universities with future job prospects in mind. Employment, in turn, often sways where new graduates begin their adult lives and lay long-term foundations. For this reason, countries that actively welcome immigrants are especially attractive to students worldwide. Consider the following data: Immigrants Welcomed (% of population)
Only 2% for Japan. Compared with inclusive countries, Japan is profoundly unwelcoming. [See #109] Knowing these facts or not, some frequently express sentiments like: “Japan’s already flooded with foreigners!” “We’re going to be taken over by China!” “Japan will stop being Japan!” But once placed in a global context, such statements reveal how shallow and detached from reality they are. And again, what’s striking is that such claims are sometimes made by people who themselves--or whose children--have benefited from living abroad in countries like the US, where foreign nationals are actively welcomed. There’s also a fear-mongering conservative mindset that portrays foreigners as a threat: “Crime has skyrocketed because of the foreigners!” However, even Japan’s National Police Agency has made it clear that there’s no factual basis for this claim. Once again, the underlying issue appears to be an inability to think independently, grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning. That said, it’s true that the number of foreign residents in Japan has increased in recent years, particularly as we often see technical intern trainees working at urban convenience stores. This increase is driven by Japan’s declining birthrate and aging population, which have sharply reduced the domestic workforce. As a result, foreign workers are now essential to keeping society functioning, and everyone living in Japan should be thanking them rather than demonizing them. Even so, compared to advanced nations, Japan’s increase in foreign residents remains minimal. Moreover, the Technical Intern Training Program is largely a misnomer. In most cases, little specialized skill training actually takes place. Instead, trainees are usually assigned unpopular, low-pay work, are prohibited from switching jobs, and are forced to leave Japan after only a few years. Some cases are so abusive that they’ve been described as a form of modern slavery. Although the program is set to transition into the new Employment for Skill Development Program, there’s a real risk that this will amount to little more than a name change unless underlying conservative mindsets shift. Returning to the main point: in a society like Japan where immigrants aren’t welcomed, opportunities remain unstable. Even after beginning to build a life, foreign residents are forced out after only a few years. This means starting over almost entirely: not just work and housing, but also relationships, community ties, and everything else. Under such uncertainty, studying abroad in Japan is hardly an attractive option for students around the world. The Trump administration seems eager to turn the US into a country more like Japan--that is, a society dominated by an overwhelming racial and ethnic majority. To achieve this, they aggressively seek to reduce immigrants and international students. Refugee acceptances have been slashed, family separations normalized, and inhumane deportation of undocumented immigrants pursued without hesitation. It’s been barely a year since these conservative policies were pushed forward, yet students around the world have already begun avoiding American Universities. This clearly demonstrates how crucial post-graduation pathways to employment and long-term residency are for students. In the next post, we’ll examine the second major reason. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (7)【Why Students Stay Away 2】 Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (5)【Inclusive Experiences】 Read Theme: Inclusive Diversity 【Inclusive Experiences】
Japan’s education system is designed so that people learn as the government wishes to teach. And students who excel at rote memorization are rewarded the most because college applications are largely decided by memorization-heavy admission exams. In contrast, inclusive education--widely embraced in urban America--intentionally cultivates a broad range of intellectual, emotional, social, and creative abilities. Precisely because they value this inclusivity, most American universities strive to welcome students from a wide variety of backgrounds across the world. This difference is clearly supported by data. Below are comparisons of student demographics at colleges considered to be the most selective in the US and Japan. 1. Foreign Nationals and Immigrants
US: Approximately 25% (Stanford) to 39% (Columbia) of students are foreign nationals. In complete contrast to the current Trump administration, the US has long embraced a liberal mindset on immigration. It’s reflected in the fact that immigrants account for another 32% of the student body. Altogether, well over half of students are either foreign nationals or immigrants. JPN: Only 2% (Keio University) to 16% (University of Tokyo) of students are foreign nationals. Data on immigrant students is virtually nonexistent, largely because their numbers are so small. 2. Race
US:
JPN: Although racial data is limited, roughly 93% of foreign students come from Asia--primarily China, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, and South Korea. When combined with Japanese students who make up the overwhelming majority, over 99% of the student population is Asian. 3. Gender
US: Women make up about 51% (Princeton) to 54% (Harvard) of the student body. JPN: Women account for only 20% (UTokyo, Kyoto University) to 39% (Waseda University). -------------------- What do these numbers reveal? Taken together, they highlight a stark reality: while American universities actively practice inclusive education by welcoming people from diverse backgrounds worldwide, it’s difficult to argue that Japanese universities have created environments that truly embrace diversity. Even among the most selective universities, the differences are striking. Given this gap, it’s no surprise that disparities also emerge in the cultivation of broad intellectual, emotional, social, and creative abilities. These differences extend to human rights awareness, openness to diversity, social engagement, and independent thinking grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning, as well as putting it into action. Of course, some individuals who never had access to inclusive education still develop broad abilities, strong awareness of human rights, and the capacity to think independently and act based on fact/evidence. Conversely, there are graduates of so-called “elite” universities who have experienced inclusive education yet fail to develop these same qualities. Still, one overarching pattern remains clear: learning in an inclusive, human rights-based environment is key to moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. This pattern is again clearly supported by data from the 2024 US presidential election, which shows a strong correlation between voting preferences and voters’ levels of education:
A similar trend appeared in the 2020 election:
These results visibly demonstrate that inclusive experiences at universities create the foundation for moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. By contrast, in Japan’s upper house election in July, conservatives dominated 71.1% vs. liberals 28.9%, nationwide. Tokyo--where education, diversity, and resources are highly concentrated--voted even more conservatively than the rest of the country: conservatives 75.2% vs. liberals 24.8% [See #123]. Viewed alongside the education data, it becomes clear why these conservative support levels resemble those found in rural America, where inclusive education is often shunned. This is the central reason why Japan, Tokyo, and rural America remain strikingly conservative, while urban America is overwhelmingly liberal: differences in inclusive experiences. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (6)【Why Students Stay Away 1】 Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (4)【College Admissions】 Read Theme: Inclusive Diversity 【College Admissions】 Inclusive education places great emphasis on independent thinking grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning, as well as putting it into action. Learning in an inclusive, human rights-based environment is key to moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. With that in mind, let’s take a look at Japan’s education system. In simple terms, Japan’s education system is designed so that people learn as the government wishes to teach. [See #25] This system is highly effective in cultivating memory-based skills. Its roots trace back to the memory-heavy Kanji writing system introduced from China about 2,000 years ago, and to the teachings of Confucius from 2,500 years ago. His teachings largely focus on the respect for parents/elders, which was widely accepted across Asia and still deeply embedded in many of its cultures today. Confucianism promotes the idea of “living one’s life by following the wise leader.” Within this framework, citizens are expected to obey rather than to think independently. A memorization-heavy education fit neatly into this worldview: memorize what’s taught by the “wise leaders,” not question them. During Japan’s post-war reconstruction and subsequent era of rapid economic growth, this education system worked remarkably well. To mass-produce quality goods at low cost, society needed large numbers of workers who would diligently follow instructions passed down from “wise” politicians and corporate executives. More than half a century later, what’s unfortunate is that despite profound changes in the modern world, Japan’s education system hasn’t evolved accordingly. In many ways, it clings to “traditional values” simply because it wants to preserve the tradition regardless of good or bad. This is why students who attend cram schools late into the night and excel at rote memorization are often praised “smart” or “knowledgeable” because college applications are largely decided by memorization-heavy admission exams. Meanwhile, most other activities are deemed “irrelevant to college admissions” and pushed aside. As a result, students miss valuable opportunities to develop a wide range of intellectual, emotional, social, and creative skills that come from broader engagement. Consequently, the system often fails to cultivate individuals who can think independently and act based on fact/evidence. This stands in stark contrast to the holistic education widely embraced in urban America. Unlike Japan’s centralized model, the US education system grants schools/teachers considerable freedom to design their own curriculum. Because of this, even within the country, there’s a clear divide between holistic education in urban America and the education often accepted in rural America. Holistic education values not only grades and standardized test scores, but also broader engagement including extracurricular activities, clubs, volunteer work, internships, and even entrepreneurship. These are not superficial add-ons; meaningful, real-world experiences significantly strengthen a student’s college application. And when holistic learning takes place in an environment that embraces diversity--gender, race, ethnicity, origin, family background--it becomes what we call inclusive education. Most American universities strive to welcome students from a wide variety of backgrounds across the world precisely because they value this inclusivity. Yet, some may argue, “But isn’t it unfair for colleges to reject someone with high grades or test scores while others with lower grades/scores get accepted?” This is a common view among those who maintain that memorization-heavy admission exams are the fairest system. However, holistic education recognizes that grades and test scores alone cannot fully measure a student’s progress. Consider this example: A student growing up in a financially strained household may have parents working long hours just to make ends meet. That student might have to work part-time to help support the family or spend hours caring for younger siblings. They likely have neither the time nor the money to attend cram schools or hire tutors. In contrast, students from affluent families have their daily needs taken care of; they have both the time/resources for top-tier cram schools and private tutors to improve their grades/scores. Inclusive education understands that our society’s structural factors tend to drive down the grades and test scores of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. For this reason, instead of applying uniform criteria, holistic admissions aim to take into account each student’s circumstances, individuality, and character as fully as possible.  [Author: Unknown]
Given the stark difference in college admissions between Japan and urban America, it’s no surprise that what/how students are taught in elementary, middle, and high school also diverges significantly. What’s more, teachers themselves are shaped by these systems and differ in their training, teaching methods, and overall mindset. The more an education system values inclusivity, the more intentionally it cultivates a broad range of intellectual, emotional, social, and creative abilities. As a result, even before starting college, students tend to already display different levels of human rights awareness, openness to diversity, social engagement, and independent thinking grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning, as well as putting it into action. These differences create the foundation for moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. This perhaps is the biggest reason why Tokyo remains strikingly conservative while urban America is overwhelmingly liberal. In the next post, we’ll explore this further by looking at actual data. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (5)【Inclusive Experiences】 Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (3)【Inclusive Education】 Read Theme: Inclusive Diversity 【Inclusive Education】
As shared in the previous blog post, recent election results show striking contrasts:
Even where conservatives won statewide, urban centers tell a very different story:
These results raise an intriguing question: while major urban cities in the US are overwhelmingly liberal, why is Tokyo so overwhelmingly conservative? Urban cities are often seen as important barometers of social progress, globally. It’s because they attract people, education, jobs, and diversity. With an ever-increasing concentration of everything in Tokyo, it’s especially so in Japan. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at inclusive education--an education that fosters human rights awareness. The more a society cultivates inclusive education grounded in human rights, the less likely people are to be drawn toward:
In short, people become less inclined to cling to “traditional values” simply because they want to preserve the tradition regardless of good or bad--that is, they move away from a conservative mindset. Conversely, the stronger a society’s commitment to inclusive education grounded in human rights, the more likely people are to embrace:
In essence, people move toward a liberal mindset--one that seeks to preserve what’s good from the past while changing what’s harmful, to build a better tomorrow for everyone. This shift from conservative mindset to liberal mindset can be illustrated by a few examples:
Inclusive education places great emphasis on independent thinking grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning, as well as putting it into action. As it takes root, people often move away from a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. Of course, in every country, there are individuals who may not have had access to quality education yet can still think independently and act based on fact/evidence. Conversely, also in every country, there are graduates of so-called “elite” universities who fail to think independently or act based on fact/evidence. The most wasteful cases are when people who’ve had the privilege of an excellent education use their knowledge not for the common good, but to exploit loopholes or twist interpretations for their own personal gain. Still, one overarching pattern remains clear: Learning in an inclusive, human rights-based environment is key to moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset. And this understanding is essential to explaining why Tokyo remains strikingly conservative while urban America is overwhelmingly liberal. In the next post, we’ll explore this further by looking at the differences between Japanese and American approaches to inclusive education. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (4)【College Admissions】 Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (2)【Even in Urban Cities】 Read Theme: Inclusive Diversity 【Even in Urban Cities】
In July’s upper house election, Japan’s conservatives won in a landslide margin of 42.2%pts. Worse still, Sanseito--a party known for rhetoric and behavior disturbingly reminiscent of Militarist Japan--came in second in total votes, trailing only the LDP. [See Previous] But this rightward shift isn’t entirely new. So, why do so many Japanese voters continue to support these conservative parties? The answer may lie in urban voting patterns. Urban cities are often seen as important barometers of social progress, not only in Japan but globally. It’s because they attract people, education, jobs, and diversity. Japan, in particular, is experiencing an ever-increasing concentration of everything in Tokyo. So, what do Tokyo’s election results tell us? In the upper house election, Tokyo elected 7 representatives. Here are the vote shares among them:
Which sums up to:
That’s a staggering 50.3%pt margin conservative victory in Tokyo. In other words, Tokyo is even more conservative than the rest of the country already dominated by conservatives. Here, we witness a stark contrast to the situation in the US. As shared in the previous blog post, the last US presidential election resulted in a conservative victory, but only by a 1.5%pt margin. More importantly, urban areas overwhelmingly voted liberal. This divide is rooted in geography. While much of America’s landmass is rural, the urban centers--though small in area--are densely populated, culturally diverse, and rich in education/job opportunities. This results in urban populations being largely liberal, while rural areas tend to be the complete opposite. This divide is reflected in vote shares in major liberal states and their urban centers: -------------------- New York State: Trump 44% vs. Harris 56% → 12%pt liberal win
California: Trump 38% vs. Harris 58% → 20%pt liberal win
Massachusetts: Trump 36% vs. Harris 62% → 26%pt liberal win
Statewide, people voted liberal, with urban centers showing overwhelming support. What’s more, even in conservative states, urban centers voted liberal. Here are some examples: -------------------- Louisiana: Trump 60% vs. Harris 38% → 22%pt conservative win
Texas: Trump 56% vs. Harris 42% → 14%pt conservative win
Georgia: Trump 51% vs. Harris 49% → 2%pt conservative win
So, even where conservatives won statewide, urban centers tell a very different story. Compare this with Japan, where conservatives won nationally by 42.2%pts, AND in Tokyo by 50.3%pts. The pattern is a complete reversal from the US. -------------------- By the way, the most conservative states in America are all rural: Wyoming: 46%pt conservative win West Virginia: 42%pt conservative win Idaho: 37%pt conservative win (Tokyo: 50.3%pt conservative win) It’s terribly concerning that Tokyo is even more conservative than America’s ultra-conservative rural states. Why then, is Tokyo--arguably one of the most urbanized metropolis in the world--so conservative? We'll explore that question in the next post. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (3)【Inclusive Education】 Read Previous: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (1)【People’s Choice】 Read Theme: Perspective 【People’s Choice】
In any national election, who we vote for reveals the state of the nation. It reflects people's thoughts, attitudes, and values. While many agree that Japan’s general election last October dealt a huge loss for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), it still remains the largest and continues to hold power. [See #116] Last month’s upper house election produced similar results. Here are the vote shares from the upper house election, with the previous general election results in parentheses for comparison:
This marks a landslide 42.2%pts victory for the conservatives--an even wider margin than the 25.0%pts seen in the last general election. It’s a clear sign of Japan’s further rightward shift. To put this in perspective, consider the national popular vote from the most recent US presidential election:
While conservatives won in both countries, the margin of victory highlights a stark contrast: a staggering 25.0 to 42.2%pts in Japan versus just 1.5%pts in the US. That narrow margin in the US offers a glimmer of hope--not only for many Americans, but also for liberals around the world--as it signals the potential for a liberal comeback, much like the one that brought us the Biden administration. Now, back to Japan’s upper house election. One of the most alarming developments is the rise of Sanseito, a party known for rhetoric and behavior disturbingly reminiscent of Militarist Japan. It came in second overall in total votes, trailing only the LDP. Here are the top five parties by vote share:
In this 80th year since the end of World War II, the fading collective memory of that tragedy is increasingly evident in this election outcome. A genuine disappointment, it reveals the thoughts, attitudes, and values of many who disregard fundamental human rights. Why is this so concerning? Because Sanseito, mimicking the cruel immaturity of Trumpism, pushes a “Japanese People First” ideology. It promotes xenophobia/nationalism, spreads conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine mis/disinformation, and frequently targets women, foreigners, and LGBTQ individuals with discriminatory rhetoric. Worse still, their platform includes reviving the Imperial Rescript on Education (a key text from Militarist Japan), imposing a family-state ideology rooted in Emperor worship, denying established historical facts about Japan’s wartime aggression, stripping pacifist clauses from the Constitution, and glorifying the act of killing other humans “for your country” in war. These policies veer dangerously toward fascism, seeking to force people into obedience through authoritarian power. In essence, Sanseito appears intent on reshaping Japan into a nation once again capable--and perhaps willing--to go to war, echoing its militarist past. [See #84] This isn’t entirely new. Groups like Nippon Kaigi--to which most LDP central figures belong--and the rising populist party Ishin have long advocated similar views. [See #65] So why, then, do so many Japanese citizens continue to vote for these conservative parties? That’s the question we’ll explore in the next post. Read Next: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (2)【Even in Urban Cities】 Read Theme: Violence/Peace Many differing opinions circulate about the ongoing Israeli military attacks in Gaza--ranging from those who condemn it as genocide, to those who defend it unconditionally.
But when we set aside emotion, avoid getting lost in the noise, and approach this situation with empathy/compassion for those who are most vulnerable, the truth begins to reveal itself. No violence. No matter what. That reality is incredibly painful. Incredibly difficult. Because it means even if your loved one is killed, "Kill them back!" is never the answer. Even if you fear you might be next, "Kill them before they kill me!" is never the answer either. [See #103] Approximately 1,000 people: The number of Israelis killed in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. The vast majority were civilians. Approximately 56,000 people (including 17,000 children): The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli military attacks since then. Again, most were civilians. Killing 1,000 people is wrong. And even if it happened first, it doesn’t justify killing 56,000 people in return. It doesn’t justify killing 17,000 children. Killing is never acceptable. And getting attacked first doesn’t make killing in return acceptable. When we include the wounded, and all those whose lives/livelihoods have been destroyed, the sorrow multiplies exponentially. With empathy and compassion, the truth becomes clear. It’s unbearably painful. And incredibly difficult. But no violence. No matter what. Read Theme: Violence/Peace 【Real Question to You】
To illustrate the point that not a small number of people require firsthand experience to understand Trumpism’s cruelty, the recent general election in Canada serves as yet another example. First, looking only at the outcome, the April election yielded a positive result with the defeat of Conservatives, the Canadian version of Trumpism. However, it’s not quite that simple when we look beneath the surface. In fact, until January when Trump took office in the US, Canada’s Conservatives were leading the Liberals by a whopping margin; nearly 30%pts ahead in the polls. Dubbed a “mini-Trump,” the Conservative leader was also popular, aggressively pushing for similarly cruel nationalistic policies. But once Trump’s hostile tariffs and remarks like “Canada should be the 51st US state” were directed at them, the Canadian people came to experience firsthand the cruelty of Trumpism. This lived experience led to a realization of how shameful their own “mini-Trump” is to direct similar cruelties toward people of other countries. The sense of reality sunk in, and public opinion quickly shifted. Just 3 months later in the general election, the Liberals won, and mini-Trump himself even lost his own seat in the parliament. To experience the harm of cruel policies firsthand. Or even just to feel their reality was enough to bring about such dramatic change. Here, one may be tempted to say, “All’s well that ends well.” But, instead, let us be mature enough to understand the suffering of others without needing to experience it firsthand. Because if we only understand after the harm, sometimes it’s too late. For example, consider the gruesome invasions carried out by Nazi Germany and Militarist Japan during World War II. Realizing the horror only after the fact, most people would agree, was tragically too late. And today, Trumpism evokes the fascism of the Nazis and Militarist Japan. It’s becoming increasingly clear as Trumpism now openly supports neo-Nazis and uses Nazi-style salutes. It’s simply replaced the Nazi swastika with MAGA red hats. Through intimidation and threats, Trump administration suppresses people’s voice against its cruel policies. It’s reminiscent of Putin administration in Russia, or Xi Jinping’s in China. And the common thread running through them all is fascism. People often say things like “Democracy is the problem,” or “Socialism/Communism is the problem.” In all fairness, each system has it’s own flaws. But the truly serious problem is when any social system is taken over by fascism, which seeks to force people into obedience through authoritarian power. What happens to people when placed under fascism? Do we support or duck our heads in fear of the authority and its supporters? Stay quiet and do nothing in fear of retaliation? These questions start to swirl around in our heads. Or do we rise to meet our moral obligation, to have the courage and conviction to say "No!" to what's unjust? Speak up and say what’s right is right, even if it means going against those in power? Now, just like in the past, that same courage and conviction are being called for in each and every one of us. And to close this post, once again, let’s quote the words from 8 years ago on this blog: “When you’re in the worst of all situations, it may feel like an eternal tunnel of darkness. However, one day not too long from now, that tunnel will end, and you'll emerge into the daylight. That is, time will pass. And remember that the real question being asked at this moment is about your own moral conscience. That question is: once it's over, what kind of person will you have become?” [See #2] Read Previous: Trumpism is Cruel Immaturity (2)【Firsthand Experience】 Complete Series: Trumpism is Cruel Immaturity (1)～(3) [1] [2] [3] Read Theme: Morality 【Firsthand Experience】
The Trump administration’s countless persecutions, threats, and cruel policies. Do the Trump voters need to experience these harms firsthand to truly understand the cruelty of it all? That said, only US citizens have the right to vote in US elections, which makes experiencing the suffering of immigrants/refugees firsthand nearly impossible, unless they themselves are first-generation immigrants/refugees who’ve thereafter become US citizens. Moreover, Trump voters are largely comprised of White Americans, the racial majority in the country. This again makes experiencing the suffering of minorities firsthand rather limited from a racial perspective. But what about from a social perspective? For example, people struggling in poverty, or those who identify as LGBTQ, or those living with a disability. People in these situations, even if they belong to the racial majority, may experience firsthand the suffering of those who are significantly disadvantaged in our society, or born into less-fortunate circumstances. Moreover, in a sense, it’s also possible to “indirectly” experience the harm. For instance, over the past several decades, conservatives have promoted irresponsible tax cuts as part of their populist policies. And it’s a well-known fact that many American small business owners are conservative supporters primarily because of these tax cuts. Of course, with the far-right shift in today’s conservatism, many of these business owners have voted for Trump. On the other hand, it’s also a well-known fact that not a small number of these business owners hire undocumented immigrants to push wages low, to make extra profit for themselves. A blatant two-faced exploitation, they loudly profess the global far-right’s favorite slogan “Deport the illegal immigrants because they’re stealing jobs from us!” while simultaneously profiting by employing these immigrants. Not surprisingly, we hear about some of these small business owners in panic mode recently where their employees were forcibly deported due to the cruel Trump policy, the exact policy that they themselves so aggressively voted for. Perhaps, they didn’t think enough about what their favorite slogan really meant. What we’re starting to hear is simply the end result of their own shameless hypocrisy. Next, we also know that American farmers overwhelmingly voted for Trump. However, due to the Trump administration’s shortsighted tariffs, again the exact policy that they themselves so enthusiastically voted for, many American farmers who rely heavily on exports are now thrown into financial chaos as their major agricultural trade partners in China/Canada have cut business with them. And oh by the way, let’s also mention that American farmers have received huge government subsidies over the past several decades. Yet, when others in need of help ask for a similar aid, these farmers furiously bark, “Stop government waste!” This, too, is a shameless hypocrisy. Encouraged by this, the Trump administration mercilessly cut aid to food banks/shelters that support people struggling in poverty. Once again, perhaps they didn’t think enough about what their favorite mantra really meant. As a result, we now hear that many farmers, whose products ultimately supply these food banks/shelters, have suddenly lost their major source of income and are expecting even more government aid for themselves. This toxic pair of hypocrisy and choosing “Self-interest above all else” is a classic case of “As long as it’s fine for us” behavior. As a responsible adult, it’s awfully shameful. This, we must be fully aware. When we become aware of this, and when we accept the idea of “voter accountability,” it may be fair to say that Trump voters are suffering from the harms caused by their own votes. However, since this is a federal election, it’s unavoidable and yet unjust that even Harris voters are caught up in this mess created by Trump voters. Likewise, foreign nationals who legally stay in the US for study, work, or accompanying family members with valid visas, are also caught in the crossfire despite having no voting rights. The national popular votes in this presidential election were Trump 49.8% vs Harris 48.3%. A margin of 1.5%pts, roughly 2 million votes. It’s disheartening that such a narrow margin can create a complete opposite of “the liberal America that nurtures compassion through a global lens, and honestly works to help those in need.” [See＃110] We sincerely hope that Trump voters who chose “Self-interest above all else” won’t make this same mistake again. Read Next: Trumpism is Cruel Immaturity (3)【Real Question to You】 Read Previous: Trumpism is Cruel Immaturity (1)【Human Weakness】 Complete Series: Trumpism is Cruel Immaturity (1)～(3) [1] [2] [3] Read Theme: Morality |
ENG/JPN Posted Alternately
日本語/英語を交互に掲載 Author ﾌﾟﾛﾌｨｰﾙ
JOE KIM Theme ﾃｰﾏ
All
Visits ｱｸｾｽ15,321 (as of 3/1/2026) 
|
RSS Feed