It's depressing to read all the misguided commentary about Japan in western media. We're talking about one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, which currently has the longest life expectancy, and one of the lowest crime rates.
Japan will endure, as it has for thousands of years. I'm more worried about where America and Europe are headed. Prosperity is one thing. Greed, corruption, and exploitation are another.
Anyway, in my experience, Japan today is a pleasant place to live. The lack of boom times here has rendered Japan more humble and practical than in the recent past. Most people in Japan ultimately enjoy a middle-class existence that would be the envy of the average American family. There are plenty of people who are struggling here, but Japanese people have endured far worse.
Western commentators will tell us that huge bloc of elders are an impossible burden on Japanese society. I see it differently—those people are a treasure trove of hard-earned experience. We can learn from them, and they're currently doing an excellent job as stewards of this place. They've seen first-hand the folly of chasing America and Europe on their imperialist fancies.
I would rather live in a "poor" Japan than in a "rich" America any day of the week. You can't put a price on peace of mind and the general atmosphere of civility and willingness to come together for a common cause.