Regarding Kevin Rafferty's Feb. 9 article, " 'Shoganai' won't save Japan": I know Japan's economic situation is difficult. But I don't buy the Osaka endodontologist's claim, cited in the article, that this "shoganai" attitude is somehow connected with teenagers' taking to wearing flu masks. How many young people actually wear such masks as a way of keeping themselves away from others?
When I consider the "shoganai" attitude, I cannot help recalling adults' weak approaches to the difficult problems Japan faces — from the pension problem to raises in the consumption tax. The number of companies that try to give jobs to those who are eager to work is on the wane.
No one gives even the slightest thought to giving up a vested interest for the future of Japan. It's no wonder that teenagers develop "shoganai" feelings when so many adults are obsessed with their own interests.