I’m in a situation similar to the hikikkomori myself, so I have enough time on my hands to make some offbeat observations: the whole piece is a neat companion to John Ganz’ recent piece about the American fascination with Japanese industry and craftsmanship in the 1980s.
Also, the whole theme of the balance between individualism and social obligations was somehow in tune with stuff I’ve read lately: a lecture contrasting America’s constitution (emphasizing liberty) with Germany’s basic law (dignity); Abraham Lincoln’s invocation of individual self-sacrifice in service of the nation in the Gettysburg Address (a very American parallel to Japanese masculinity, no?); Martin Luther King’s address comparing communism and capitalism and what each forgets…
I’m in a situation similar to the hikikkomori myself, so I have enough time on my hands to make some offbeat observations: the whole piece is a neat companion to John Ganz’ recent piece about the American fascination with Japanese industry and craftsmanship in the 1980s.
Also, the whole theme of the balance between individualism and social obligations was somehow in tune with stuff I’ve read lately: a lecture contrasting America’s constitution (emphasizing liberty) with Germany’s basic law (dignity); Abraham Lincoln’s invocation of individual self-sacrifice in service of the nation in the Gettysburg Address (a very American parallel to Japanese masculinity, no?); Martin Luther King’s address comparing communism and capitalism and what each forgets…
Thanks for the reference to Ganz's piece, I'll check that out. Several years ago I wrote up the history of that USA vs. Japan episode as it relates to AI, you can check it out here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335639665_Artificial_Intelligence_and_Japan's_Fifth_Generation_The_Information_Society_Neoliberalism_and_Alternative_Modernities