Takaichi Sanae's appointment is a historic milestone for gender representation in Japan. However, her political agenda is deeply conservative. She actively opposes key feminist issues, such as allowing separate surnames for married couples, illustrating the crucial distinction between descriptive representation and substantive policy change.
The economic cost of zero-migration policies isn't just the loss of immigrant talent, but also the loss of their "spillover effects." Research shows immigrant innovators significantly boost the productivity and output of their native-born colleagues. A third of US innovation, measured by patents, is attributed to immigrants and these crucial collaborative spillovers.
Japan's ruling LDP selected Takaichi Sanae, a leader with a brash, populist aesthetic, not to upend the system but to co-opt populist appeal. This strategy aims to fend off genuine anti-establishment challengers and re-establish the party's grip on power, demonstrating a novel approach to maintaining the status quo.
LAP Coffee keeps prices low with stark interiors and quick service, discouraging customers from lingering. It builds its "Life Among People" brand by hosting community events like yoga and art shows outside the core transaction. This unbundling of product and community experience attracts a younger demographic focused on speed and affordability.