Since the early 1990s, when I first came to Japan, I have seen Americans from different walks of life take active public stands on a wide range of issues. Energy has ebbed and flowed over the decades, but 2017 was a particularly strong year.
Heading into 2018, I want to be optimistic — more than my morning news reading allows — perhaps because I see so many opportunities for people to become engaged, beyond complaining on social media. Getting off the sofa, pulling the screens away from our faces and talking with others who care about various issues can be the entry point to civic engagement.