In these gloomy times, it seems everyone in Japan is chanting the mantra of structural reform, yet progress is excruciatingly slow. The greatest obstacle is not the political old guard nor the foot-dragging banks. Instead, the main problem is lack of art, according to playwright Oriza Hirata.

"The biggest problem is that the mentality of the public lags behind the times," said the 39-year-old drama director, who established the theatrical group Seinendan in 1982.

Hirata first made headlines at the age of 16, when he traveled around the world on a bicycle and later published a book detailing his experiences.