During the pandemic, the Japanese government imposed draconian restrictions on its citizens, as did many other countries, including the United States, which had no lack of enthusiastic adherents. Many of those COVID measures were complicated by Japanese culture and social structure (slow vaccine rollouts, etc.), and the deaf ear the ruling government turned to the public when there was significant conflict between their plans and public wishes. As there is no viable political competition, there is little impetus for the government to heed the voice of the people....Japan’s inability to adapt structurally and culturally also made some of the more...