Amidst the abundance of entertainment programs on year-end television shows, there are scattered programs reflecting not only on the past year but also on the post-war era. Looking back on this year, domestically, the three-year-long COVID-19 pandemic seems to be finally waning. Many events that were previously canceled or scaled down have almost fully revived, and the influx of tourists from overseas has recovered to around 80% of pre-pandemic levels.
Starting with the 14-year-awaited victory in the World Baseball Classic in March, followed by the Hanshin Tigers’ first Japan Series championship in 38 years, and most notably, the astonishing performance of Ohtani-kun that captivated Japan until the year-end, the sports world has been buzzing with big news. Amidst such bright news, the political turmoil in Japan continues as usual. We must somehow exterminate the maggots that are springing up in the Nagatacho area.
Presently, Japan finds itself in a state where it significantly trails the United States and China in nominal GDP, possibly slipping to fourth place, surpassed even by Germany. Per capita GDP, standing at $34,000 in 2022, ranks 32nd globally and is the lowest among the G7 nations. The working-age population is the lowest among the G7. The prominence of “Made in Japan” is fading, and the world export share, which exceeded 10% in the peak year of 1986, has dropped to 3% in 2022. The competitiveness of major export items such as electronics and semiconductors has remained low. Beyond that, 78 years after the remarkable post-war recovery, Japan shows signs of systemic fatigue in various aspects.
Amidst this, signs of Japan’s resilience are beginning to emerge. According to Google, the most searched topics worldwide from 2004 to 2023 were related to Japan, and there are signs of a revival in the “semiconductor” sector, where Japan has maintained a high share in manufacturing equipment and materials. Above all, Japan, with its unparalleled traditions, culinary culture, and rich nature, continues to possess unique charm. It remains a popular tourist destination, securing the top spot in the “Countries Readers Want to Visit Again” category in a reader poll by the major U.S. travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
There is much more to discuss, but Japan seems prepared to make a leap. In the fields of economy, society, and culture, Japan may well dominate the world by the end of the 21st century. At that time, the world may truly find peace.

年末のテレビ番組で娯楽番組が多い多い中で、この１年を、さらに戦後を振り返る番組もちらほら目にします。この１年を振り返れば、国内的には、３年続いたコロナ禍もやっと下火になり、今まで中止や規模縮小されていたいろんな行事もほぼ復活し、海外からの観光客もコロナ前の80%位には回復した様です。
３月のWBCの14年振りの優勝から始まって、阪神タイガースの38年振り日本一、そして何よりも大谷君の度肝を抜く大活躍振りに日本中が沸きたった年末まで、スポーツ界はビッグニュースで湧き立ちました。こうした明るいニュースの中で、相変わらずの日本政界の体たらく振り。永田町界隈に湧くウジ虫は何とか駆除しなければなりません。
今の日本は、名目GDP（国内総生産）で米国と中国を大きく見上げ、ドイツにも抜かれ4位に転落しそうな状態です。国民1人当たりのGDPも、2022年に3.4万ドルと世界32位で、主要7カ国（G7）で最下位に沈んでしまいした。生産年齢人口はG7で最下位。「メード・イン・ジャパン」の存在感は霞む一方。世界輸出シェアはピーク時の1986年には1割を超えていたのに、2022年には3%まで下がってしまい、家電や半導体など主要な輸出品目の競争力は低下したまま。その他、あの目覚ましい戦後復興から78経った日本はあらゆる所に制度疲労が目立ちます。
そんな中、日本の底力復活の兆しも見えてきました。米グーグルによれば、2004～23年に世界で最も検索数が多かったのは日本関連だし、日本が製造装置や部素材で高シェアを維持してきた「半導体」にも再興の芽が出てきています。そして何よりも、世界に類を見ない伝統や食文化、豊かな自然はユニークな魅力を保っている日本は、観光地としての人気は高く、米国の大手旅行雑誌「コンデナスト・トラベラー」の読者投票で「再訪したい国」1位に選ばれている事です。
その他まだまだありますが、日本が飛躍にカジを切る準備はできています。経済・社会・文化それぞれの分野で、21世紀末には、日本が世界を席巻しているでしょ。その時こそ世界が平和になる時です。