Posts published in “Social issues”

Positive Effect of Inbound Tourism in Japan

Positive Effect of Inbound Tourism in Japan

February 28, 2024

By Kyoko Abe

The COVID-19 pandemic is becoming finished, and the number of international tourists in Japan is expected to increase by 21 million people in 2023. There are many reasons why foreign tourists choose Japan as their trip place, which are weaker yen, delicious foods, and a clean and safe environment. More and more foreigners visit Japan, and the government of Japan expects to create economic effects from the Inbound industry. There are three inbound benefits, which are economic growth, the increase in demand for Japanese products, and the improvement of Japan’s image.
        Firstly, inbound tourism raises Japan’s economy. The consumption amount of foreigners visiting Japan has greatly increased. According to Japan’s National Tourism Bureau, 3.47 trillion yen was consumed in 2015, which means that the consumption amount occupies 0.6 percent of GDP and 1 percent of individual consumption, so the contribution should be appropriated in the trend of decreasing the consumers population. Also, the Inbound industry is the second highest industry with export value after the automobile, so the Inbound industry is one of the main export industries. Moreover, the inbound industry promotes other industries like hotels, transportation, production, and restaurants. For example, the construction of hotels is increased, because more foreigners are visiting Japan, which leads to creating profit for the construction industry, restaurants around hotels, and transportation will be more useful for visitors. The effective benefits of inbound tourism raising profit and promoting other industries lead to improvement Japan’s economy.
        Secondly, the demand for Japanese products is increased in foreign countries by inbound tourism. Foreign tourists enjoy purchasing Japanese products like electronics, snacks, and clothes. They tend to repurchase these products in their home country. According to Kanko Hakuho (2018), the consumption amount that tourists repurchase Japanese products after they come back is 630 billion yen. Also, Mizuho Information Research Institute (2016) revealed that more than 60 percent of Chinese, Thai, and Taiwanese who tripped to Japan bought the same Japanese products again in their country. The situation they buy the products again in their country leads to an increase in the amounts of Japan’s exportation. Also, the popularity of Japanese products has spread, and more Japanese restaurants are offered in foreign countries.
        Finally, the Japanese image of foreigners become better, and Japanese residents are proud of their region. Inbound tourism has effects not only Japan’s economy and products but also a positive image of Japan. According to Genron NPO (2018), the research on the Chinese impression of Japan showed that overall, 34.9% is a positive impression against 63.3% is a negative one. 34.9% is positive impression by Chinese who have never visited Japan. However, Chinese who have visited Japan have more positive impressions about 74.3%, which means Chinese impressions had been changed from negative to positive by visiting Japan. Also, the tendency is also same among Korean. Positive impression of Japan among Korean who have visited Japan is three times higher than Korean who have never visited. Inbound has the power to change public opinion towards Japan. Also, Taniguchi (2012) argued that the more foreign visitors interact with residents, the more they know the attractions of the region they visit, and the satisfaction and the place attachment become better. Also, residents rearise the charm of their local nature and resources, so they have a positive attitude to regional activation and spread the local charms more to foreign visitors. Throughout inbound tourism, both foreigners and Japanese residents realize the local charm and increase the place attachment.
        In this way, inbound tourism has three effects in Japan. Throughout inbound tourism, Japan’s economy is raised which increases the consumption of foreigners leading to a high GDP of Japan and promoting other industries. Moreover, the demand for Japanese products has increased in foreign countries. It expands Japan’s exportation and spreads the popularity of Japanese products. Also, public opinion towards Japan become better and the place attachment among both foreign tourists and residents is increased by inbound tourism. Inbound tourism has these effective aspects, so it is expected to support the Japanese economy and society in the future.

Positive Effects of Inbound Tourism on Japanese Industries

Positive Effects of Inbound Tourism on Japanese Industries

February 28, 2024

By Towa Oguni

Inbound tourism has excellent potential to be a major stimulus for the Japanese economy. After the Covid-19 begin to be calm down, many tourists all over the would start to go abroad and visit tourist spots again. They spent huge of money on sightseeing so economic is revitalized by them. Naoki Arai (2019) reported that the number of tourists coming Japan is 31 million in 2018, consuming 4,500 billion in 2018. Both scores were increased significantly than before. There are three positive effects inbound tourism on.
Some places are popular among international travelers. For example, Japanese discount store called Don Quixote’s business has been growing with inbound tourism. This store sells a lot of interesting items for customers, and it is very famous for foreign tourists. The Dotonbori shop in Osaka is the most attractive. Ichiro Matsumoto (2016) said that Dotonbori store in Osaka occupy 39.6% of the ratio of tax-free sales. In other words, many tourists from abroad shop at this store, contributing greatly to sales.
In addition to the effects on discount store, Japan’s luxury hotels start building new hotels. There are just 34 five-star hotels in Japan, whereas America has 801 five-star hotels. Hoshino Resort a well-known company that operates hotels in Japan has planned to open new four facilities by 2024. In addition, Imperial Hotel has planning built a new hotel in Kyoto by 2026.
The most positive effect of inbound spill over construction industry, accordingly, increasing employment opportunities. The Nikkei (2022) reported Shiseido, Japanese cosmetic farm, has completed new plan in Kurume, Fukuoka to ship their cosmetic products for Asian such as China. This factory will have the potential to produce 140 million units per year from 2026. The company have to hire more workers. Thus, more jobs will be created as a result of inbound tourism.
In conclusion, these are the three great effects of Japanese inbound tourism. The corporation such as Don Quixote is benefiting from the inbound. Moreover, the company can receive positive effects such as increased employment opportunities by establishing a system to accommodate inbound tourism. Japan’s economy will grow more than ever thanks to inbound.

References

Arai, (2019), Significance effects and issue of inbound tourism. Journal of Regional Promotion ,30,1-30.
Matsumoto, (2016). Increase of foreign visitors and upheaval of inbound tourism. The Economic Review of Japan University of Economics,46, 237-247.
Shiseido hukuokade shinkozyokadou zyuyoukaihuku mikomi seisankakuzyu［Shiseido to start operation of new plant in Fukuoka prefecture, expanding production in expectation of recovery in demand.］(2022,May 26). Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

Effects of Inbound Tourism in Japan

Effects of Inbound Tourism in Japan

February 28, 2024

By Yui Naoi

These days, when I go to Don Quixote I’m surrounded by many tourists from China, Korea and other countries. And foreign languages are spoken around in the shop. Also, when shopping at such places, tourists fill their baskets with goods and buy many of the same items. There are a lot of foreigners seen in Don Quixote, department store and Matsumoto Kiyoshi etc. As this trend shows there are three positive effects of inbound tourism on Japanese retail stores.
One of the most successful retail stores is Don Quixote. Don Quixote is a variety shop that sells foods to electronic appliances. Recently, Don Quixote’s sales figures have been going up steadily every year. According to their website, Don Quixote’s operating income increased 18.7% over the previous year. They caught the wave of inbound tourism by opening a duty-free shop for international customers. They accommodated the needs of foreign customers by offering foreign language services. In addition, their shop is open for 24 hours 7 days. Thanks to that Don Quixote is ranked fourth in the Japanese retail industry in term of sales. So, you can see how Japanese retail stores are growing due to international tourists.
Another successful retail shop is Matsumoto Kiyoshi, a drug store. Matsumoto Kiyoshi is a drugstore that is expanding nationwide, mainly in eastern Japan, and is used daily by many people as a tenant in stations and department stores these days. It is approximately 40% of total sales are cosmetics, which generate almost as much or more profit than drugs. The fact that cosmetics sell better than medicines, despite being in pharmacies, was surprising. The demand for Japanese cosmetics from these tourists has led Japanese cosmetics manufacturers to expand their factories and increase production efficiency. It is largely derived from there and contributes greatly to the Japanese economy, such as the construction industry that makes money to build factories.
Lastly, department stores also succeed in getting inbound customer. Also, this year, department stores are experiencing strong inbound consumption because of yen is weaking. And sales have increased greatly compared to the previous year. Due to the economic downturn, Japanese incomes did not rise and luxury items did not sell well. But sales of luxury items are increasing thanks to international tourists, especially Chinese tourists. In addition, department stores, like drugstores, have been increasing their sales of cosmetics. Expensive cosmetics specific to department stores, it called “Depakosu” are popular among Asian tourists. Corona virus has also settled down and started to take off their masks, and some say that Japanese cosmetic manufacturers are still of good quality and safe.
These retail stores have increased their sales in recent years thanks to foreign tourists. And continue to grow and wealth the Japanese economy. But the bombing shopping by foreign tourists may make it difficult for Japanese to obtain goods. However, it is true that the increase in tourists has improved Japan’s economy and stimulated a variety of jobs. We will continue to grow our various Japanese businesses without relying too much on tourists. I hope that more and more companies will expand their business overseas, and that their products will reach people who have not yet visited Japan.

References
“don・kihoteno” pashipashiHD, 23nenn 6gakki junrieki saikouni [“Don Quixote” Pashipashi-HD posts highest net income for the fiscal 2023 ended June] (2023, May 10). Nihon Keizai Shinbun.
Shiseidou, Osakano 2 koujouwo 26 nenni tougou seisan kourituka [ Shiseido to integrate two plants in Osaka in 26 years to improve production efficiency] (2023, October 31). Nihon Keizai Shinbun.
9 gatuno hyakkaten uriagedaka, 9.2%zou menzeiwa kako 3banmeno kousuijun [ Department store sales up 9.2% in September, duty free at third highest level on record] (2023, October 24). Nihon Keizai Shinbun.
5 gatuno hyakkaten uriagedaka , 6.3%zou iryouhin ya keshouhinga kouchou [ Department store sales up 6.3% in May, strong sales of clothing and cosmetics] (2023, June 23). Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

Ways to Solve Wild Animals Appearing in Residential Areas

Ways to Solve Wild Animals Appearing in Residential Areas

August 10, 2023

By Riho Bando
These days, as many people move to urban areas, they seek houses in the suburb. Due to this, the habitat for wild animals are destroyed to build houses. Development of wild areas negatively impact both humans and wild animal. People are afraid of meeting wild animals and animals in the city are in danger. Although this issue is serious, there are ways to protect humans and wild animals.
The issue of wild animals showing up in urban areas has gained attention over the last few years. Recently, bears, boars and monkeys often appear in residential areas. A research group in Hokkaido University say that brown bears show up in cities because they don’t have enough foods in a forest. Still, there is another issue. Animals that stepped into dangerous and noisy cities sometimes attack a human. According to the Ministry of the Environment, 81 people were injured by wild animals in Japan in 2022. You can’t be safe if a wild animal rush at you while you are talking a walk. To protect humans and animals, people should come up with solutions.

A good way to protect lives is to stop developing forests. Instead of using land more and more, the government should encourage to build taller apartments. Japan has enough technology to build tall buildings without risks.

Another way to avoid using too much land is to encourage remote working. People have gathered to cities to work and the suburb has been developed to build houses for commuters. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was unthinkable to live in the countryside to work. Now, however, it is possible to work online and living in their hometowns. Therefore, they should be able to live in other places that are far away from urban areas. I believe that remote working will contribute to protect nature and animals. The problem of wild animals appearing in cities is serious. People should consider how to solve the issue. Avoiding cutting off trees and encouraging online working style will solve this issue. I hope that people could live safely with wild animals in the future.

A Better AI Education for All

A Better AI Education for All

August 9, 2023

By Fuu Tanikawa
     What do you think about using AI in education? AI, which has made great progress in recent years, has the power to greatly change our lives. Of course, it makes life more convenient, but it also has harmful effects. Under such circumstances, will the use of AI in the field of education have a positive impact? I believe that the use of AI will benefit not only students who use it, but also teachers.
   By using AI, it is possible to provide education that matches the level of understanding of each student. Many Japanese schools take the form of classes in which everyone in the class learns the same content at the same pace. However, this is a very difficult environment for students who are not good at studying and are falling behind other students. It’s also a bad environment for students who take longer than others to understand, but also for students who have extraordinary learning abilities. There may be some students who give up learning because the class goes on without understanding or lose the opportunity to develop their talents.
AI can solve such problems by giving appropriate advice tailored to each individual.
Some of the major reasons why students dislike studying is that they don’t know what they don’t understand in the first place, they don’t know where they stumbled, and they are taught materials that aren’t suitable for their levels. Then AI　can tell the students what to do based on their individual learning data. AI can provide advice in real time, preventing wasted study time. In addition, AI can help students with areas that are difficult to notice by themselves, as AI will tell them what to review.
     The introduction of AI has benefits not only for students, but also for teachers. Recently, long working hours for teachers has become a problem in Japan. The reason for this is the huge amount of work. They are required to do. AI can do some of that work. For example, the use of AI, which has an automatic scoring function and a function that can detect eye movements, can reduce the burden of teachers. They will be able to use the time saved by AI as the time for their students or themselves.
     Although AI-based education has many advantages, some people believe it may hinder students from developing their own thinking skills. Certainly, when used without proper adult involvement, it may lead to such a situation. So, adults should provide guidance, and children should create new and original things based on the answers obtained from AI. Also, AI is suitable for children to independently pursue their own interests. So, if children use it wisely, their ability to think and pursue should not only stay the same, but rather improve.
     In conclusion, the use of AI in the field of education certainly has disadvantages, but it also has many advantages, and its introduction will greatly contribute to improving the quality of education. In addition, I believe that the use of AI, which is likely to become common in society in the future, will have great significance in the career development of students. Promoting AI education will help people grow as a result.

Ways to Tackle Aging Population of Rural Areas of Japan

Ways to Tackle Aging Population of Rural Areas of Japan

August 9, 2023

By Saki Tanaka
     Shimane Prefecture is one of the areas that is decreasing an aging population. The birth rate in Shimane is on the decline. Young people in Shimane tend to move to urban areas when they go to college or get a job. Those who got jobs in urban areas continue to work and live there and they do not come back to their hometowns. This trend causes the population and economic declines of Shimane. I think there are two ways to solve such problems.
     First of all, let’s think about why young people move to cities. In general, jobs in the city have higher wages and a variety of occupations, so teenagers and twenties who are going to work or go to college think that urban areas are attractive places. In addition, it is thought that smart people who have excellent skills tend to go to cities such as Tokyo. I think those people think that working in the city is better than working in the countryside because they can demonstrate their own abilities. It can’t be helped for them to go to the city once to go on to higher education or get a job, but eventually a lot of people of Shimane Prefecture want their young people to come back to Shimane Prefecture again.
     One way to prevent population outflows to urban areas is increasing wages. Companies in Shimane should try to raise wages. There are a lot of people who go to urban places to get high wages. Many people judge that if wages are low, they can’t support their children. It is important to raise wages so that everyone can have decent wages so that they can have families.

Another way is to create a good environment for raising children. In order to do that, it is necessary to enhance childcare services so that parents with children can work, and to create a place where they can go to play on weekends such as parks. Many parents are grateful to be able to receive support from a community and the company that they work for in raising children. In my hometown, Oda City in Shimane Prefecture, children during the compulsory education period, who are elementary school and junior high school students, can receive reduced medical expenses. In some cases, medical expenses may be free. So many parents will be very helped because the burden is less.
The problem of local population decline is serious. In order to prevent further problems from becoming more serious, I think these solutions should be implemented. It is important to improve the workplace environment in Shimane Prefecture. Local companies inform young people that the wages are high and encourage them to work in rural areas such as Shimane Prefecture. After young people start working in Shimane, it is required to create an environment where it is easy to raise children to build a family there. Then people who want ease of living will gather. I’m looking forward to the future in Shimane.

Child Should be Protected from Technology

Child Should be Protected from Technology

August 9, 2023

By Yui Naoi
Have you heard a child crying, “Lend me smartphone! Lend me tablets!” Parents hand over their smartphones to their demanding children. It is unfortunate, because the period up to the age of five is an important period for children’s healthy growth. How they spend this critical period will greatly affect their development and personality in the future. There are several reasons why children under the age of five should should be protected from harmful communication technologies.

Smartphones and tablets negatively affect the healthy growth of children. Looking at the same screen for a long time can cause eyestrain and poor eyesight for children who are still immature. Also listening to electronic sounds for a long time will also weaken their hearing. Electronic media creates a world of light and sound, and there is no light, sound, smell, taste or touch that nature creates. Therefore, only sight and hearing are working, and the five senses cannot be developed in a well-balanced manner.
In addition, children will stop playing outside if they are entertained at home with games on smartphones and tablets. If children only play indoors and stop playing outdoors, they will not get enough exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity and stress. Also, since children play only on the screen by themselves, they will not be able to communicate with many friends and build social relationships. I think that small children should learn to develop social skills by talking, quarreling and laughing together with their peers.
Using smartphones and tablets will limit the interaction with their family members. First of all, spending time with their family members is the most important thing to do for young children. If children cannot communicate well with their family members, parent-child and sibling relationships will deteriorate. In addition, children use electronic media, and blue light prevents them from developing their imagination and concentration by eliminating the time for reading, which is important for their healthy growth. In conclusion, disadvantages of using modern media is serious for children under the age of five. They include mental, physical, and social problems. Children under the age of five should stay away from modern communication technologies.