Discrepancy is the mother of creation! 'That's Why Japan is Out of Step'

We don't need leaders.
Technology alone won't bring the future.
Nomads are just people who quit their corporate jobs.
Young people can't change society.

At just 29 years old, he's a regular on TV and has numerous bestsellers. The provocative headlines leap off the pages of the new book by the sharp-minded sociologist, Noritoshi Furuichi: "That's Why Japan is Off Track" (Shinchosha). Honestly, this is the first time reading a book made me want to cover my eyes. That's how razor-sharp his observations are, delivered without sugarcoating, straight and hard-hitting (and one after another).

A Country Somehow Out of Sync: Japan

This book unravels the true nature of the "disconnect" pervasive in Japan.
"Something feels off, doesn't it?"
Have you ever felt that way while casually watching the news or glancing at a newspaper article? The fact that this book surpassed 100,000 copies in less than two months after its release may be proof that so many people sense this disconnect.
What exactly is off? How is it off? And what causes it? That's where this book begins.
For example, let's explore Chapter One: "We Don't Need Leaders."

Japan Needs ◯◯◯ More Than Strong Leaders

The "yearning for a leader" argument we hear so often these days.
"Japan needs strong leaders!"
It's an argument that makes you want to nod along, but the author states unequivocally:

"We don't really need strong leaders like Jobs (in Japan)."
"I feel uneasy about the tendency to easily idealize 'strong leaders' like Steve Jobs."

This punch comes just 15 pages in. The sheer impact might make you want to gently close the book right here, but that would be a tremendous waste.

"In our rapidly changing modern world, the downsides of strong-leader dictatorship outweigh the benefits. Japan should instead take pride in having built such a rich and stable society that it doesn't even need a 'strong leader'." "Small groups over strong leaders,"

the author argues.

The reason is this : "When we think about everything on a 'national' scale and try to devise solutions that would save hundreds of millions of people all at once, it makes the problems seem insurmountable. (...) But there are many social issues we can solve ourselves, without waiting for the government to act."

We can't afford to wait for strong leaders anymore. Break down the problems, take the lead in a small group, and just start moving.
At first glance, this seems like a simple conclusion you might dismiss with "Well, duh." Yet the reality is that the desire for strong leaders is being discussed everywhere. The author carefully and calmly analyzes this disconnect in Japan.

Where does this persistent disconnect come from?

Cool Japan, social media, job hunting, academic credentials...
As various themes get sliced and diced, a detective-like mindset emerges in the reader's mind: "Who's the culprit?"
This book declares: The cause lies with the "middle-aged men."
Some readers might breathe a sigh of relief, while others might flinch.
"Ah, I see! So this book is about lost middle-aged men and the poor young people who suffer because of them."

No, no, this book isn't about generational conflict.
The important part starts here.

"'Middle-aged men' are people who, through a series of fortunate coincidences, have managed to join the ranks of those with vested interests and go about their days without questioning the benefits they receive. (...) The moment a person stops questioning their current position, they become a 'middle-aged man.'"

Yes, the point is that there are plenty of "middle-aged men" among the young too.
It's not about generations. Regardless of age or gender, "uncles" lurk everywhere.

If "uncles" create the disconnect, then "uncles" can also solve it.

So what's needed to break free from this negative spiral?
The author continues, stating that the key lies with the "old man."

"Becoming an 'ojisan' isn't all bad.
'Ojisan' hold more power than 'young people'. If that power is used appropriately, society will surely change for the better.
It should be possible to act like an 'ojisan' while still remembering how 'young people' feel. And it's not that difficult for 'ojisan' and 'young people' to join hands."

I think we absolutely must not underestimate the power they possess. I want to say this loudly to young people (and as a reminder to myself too).
The number of "highly conscious" young people is growing. For them, social contribution might even feel easier than a part-time job. We live in an era where high schoolers declare, "I started a student group to send young people to Tohoku to raise awareness about its current situation!"
Yet, we rarely hear about these "young people" truly joining forces with "uncles"! "Uncles" are incredible. Their depth of knowledge, wealth of experience, networks, and resources – everything. Right now, I live in a share house not just with people in their 30s, but also with someone in their 60s. Every day brings new surprises. They casually share invaluable information like hidden treasures. Unique individuals constantly drop by the house. If you confide work troubles, they instantly become master counselors. "Uncles" are formidable.

Discrepancy is the mother of creation

There's no such thing as a perfectly aligned, flawless person in this world. Misalignment is relative; everyone is misaligned in some way compared to those around them. And when these misalignments gather, before you know it, you've got a misaligned Japan.
But the biggest lesson I took from this book is that deviation can be the spark for creating something new. It's precisely because we're off-kilter that we can see the world through different eyes.
There's also the saying: "To break the mold, you must first master the mold. Otherwise, you become mold-less." In that sense, we all already possess misalignment. But we don't recognize it. We never dream we're misaligned. That's such a waste. Use misalignment to master misalignment. We're all already one step away from that.

To all of you who keep creating new things.
This book may be (quite) uncomfortable to read, but I strongly encourage you to give it a try.

【Dentsu Inc. Modern Communication Lab】