For Japan to thrive, the wall must come down

Robert Dujarric’s commentary implores Japan to dismantle the various “walls” that isolate its economy and society from the world. He observes that Japan in 2010 remained surprisingly closed: foreign direct investment was minuscule, few Japanese universities had global faculty or students, English proficiency lagged, and many industries were protected from competition. These walls – whether regulatory barriers, language hurdles, or a cultural aversion to outside influence – provided short-term comfort but at a long-term cost. Dujarric argues that such insularity was making Japan less dynamic and less able to capitalize on global opportunities.

He emphasizes that if Japan wants to thrive, not just muddle through, it needs a paradigm shift toward openness. That means encouraging more exchange (academic, business, cultural), welcoming foreign expertise and capital, and pushing Japanese players onto the world stage. The “wall” metaphor underscores how Japan’s inward focus, once perhaps useful for coherence, had turned into an obstacle to innovation and leadership. By tearing down these walls – embracing globalization and reform – Dujarric believes Japan can reinvigorate its economy and regain international clout. Leave them up, and Japan risks stagnation and irrelevance as the rest of the world moves ahead in a connected era.