Uchikura & Co., LLC

Japan Should Be Japan — Not a Product of Globalization

Tokyo is in the middle of an election season.
Yet, when you walk through the streets of the city, you hardly feel it. There are no loud political slogans, no aggressive campaigns, no visible confrontation. Instead, Tokyo feels calm, organized, and quietly energetic.

 

This is very Japanese.
Politics exists, but it does not disturb daily life.

 

During my stay, I noticed something that made me think deeply.

 

I hardly see any Chinese tourists anymore.

 

A little over a year ago, the situation was completely different. Most of the guests at my hotel were Chinese. Shops, restaurants, and tourist spots were filled with Chinese voices. This time, they are almost gone.

 

Let me be very clear.
This is not about hatred or discrimination.

 

Japanese and Chinese are both Asian, but culturally they are fundamentally different. The way people communicate, behave in public, respect rules, and express themselves reflects different histories and values. Cultural difference is not good or bad—it is simply reality.

 

Some people in Japan feel relieved that the atmosphere has returned to what it was a few years ago. I understand that sentiment.

 

From a purely economic perspective, one might argue that the disappearance of Chinese tourists is a risk. Tourism brings money, and fewer visitors mean less revenue. That is true.

 

But I do not see this situation as a danger.

 

On the contrary, I see it as a sign of resilience.

 

Japan is surviving—perhaps even thriving—without depending heavily on one specific group of visitors. Dependency is always risky, whether in business or in national strategy. When a country becomes too reliant on a single market, it loses freedom of choice.

 

Globalization is not a religion.
It is a tool.

 

And tools should be used selectively, not blindly.

 

I do not believe Japan should open itself just for the sake of globalization. A country does not exist only to maximize inbound numbers or GDP statistics. A nation is built on culture, discipline, social order, and shared values.

 

Japan should remain Japan.

 

Diversity has value, but diversity without rules is chaos.
If opening the doors too widely means losing what makes Japan unique, then the cost is too high.

 

Globalization should not erase identity.
If globalization forces Japan to stop being Japan, that is not progress—it is surrender.

 

Tomorrow is Saturday.
I plan to walk through Akihabara, Shinjuku, and Shibuya again—not as a tourist, but as an observer.

 

Because sometimes, the streets tell the truth that governments and media prefer not to say.

 

And so far, Tokyo still feels like Tokyo.