People have lost the hungry spirit. Of course people complain about low economic growth, but they are not seriously suffering from poverty. Five years ago, people were warning that Japan would go downhill, but it hasn't. People now can live with the fact that our country belongs to the upper middle or lower top class in the world, and they question whether we have to become No. 1 in the world, or even No. 2. Every human being has the ability to invent something, to be creative.
Education determines the character of human beings.
The educational system in this country has to change. Japanese students are capable, but they are not trained to become creative. They are educated from very early stages to be capable of performing given tasks. However, when you ask them to come up with new ideas and solve problems, they're not used to it. The Japanese school system overemphasizes equality and nips potential talent in the bud.