I think Kazuo Ogoura's July 14 article, "Why is Japan introverted?," is hard to understand. The main topic is why Japanese people prefer not to study or work abroad, yet the article finishes with the statement that Japan needs to increase its international appeal. The conclusion is unrelated to the beginning because increasing its international appeal would get foreign people in Japan, but not Japanese out of Japan.
With all due respect to the field itself, robotic research is by no means a qualitative contribution. It is in the same category as the technological power Japan presented during the 1970s. Stating it as part of the same "qualitative" category as manga and food is erroneous. Japan is still the world power in electronic cameras, robotics, mobile phones and consumable electronics.
The main reason for the Japanese diaspora was the war; Japanese people went to different countries in search of better opportunities. Young people (today) have little interest in leaving Japan because Japan fills them culturally and economically. Ogoura should check his numbers and compare them with American and European countries.
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