The rapid aging of the Japanese population is both a challenge and an opportunity as it will force the nation to confront structural problems with its economy and make tough choices, visiting French journalists said at a recent symposium in Tokyo.
The prospect of Japan soon seeing its population decline -- due to the falling birthrate -- will prompt the nation to review long-established government and corporate-management policies as well as individual attitudes, said the veteran journalists from leading French media organizations.
They were speaking at a Nov. 11 symposium organized by the Keizai Koho Center and held at Keidanren Kaikan under the theme "How Will Japan Change? Prospects for the Japanese Economy -- View of French Journalists." The symposium concluded a weeklong program of exchanges with government officials, business people and scholars.