This new procedure has been modified from the last proposal in 2000 where long-term residents of Korean and Chinese descent who were forced to live in Japan during Imperial Japan’s WWII occupation, are excluded.

What’s ironic is that the Japanese government needs more foreigners to address their demographic crunch as it’s population ages and work force shrinks. Many believe by implementing such a strict immigration policy when the need for skilled foreign workers is vital to the future of Japan’s economy, is irresponsible. It appears Japan’s solution to their real life problem of a shrinking workforce is to build robots? Some people ask, “why is it easier to give a visa to a Phillipino woman who wants to work as a hostess in Japan, than a highly skilled nurse from the same country?” On top of their demographic problem, Japan is still searching for ways to address it’s tourist decline at a time when travelers have a widening array of Asian destinations. Their new immigration policy obviously doesn’t solve any of their current demographic and tourist issues, and in fact just fuels it even further.

However, with the threat of Japan’s Foreign Minister’s so called “friend of a friend” sneaking into Japan, the government felt it was necessary to implement the policy even though all previous terrorist attacks were carried out by Japanese nationals.

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Even though this particular highway is on the list of being one of the necessary ones, there are many infrequently used, new and expensive highways out in the middle of nowhere. They’re beautiful to drive on but are money drainers and it’s costing the Japanese taxpayer a lot. I’m sure as in other countries; these unnecessary highways are built because of political corruption. In Japan’s case it would be the relationship between the Yakuza operated construction companies, the former Japan Highway Public Corporation and the Liberal Democratic Party. The Liberal Democratic Party has been the majority party since 1955 and their supporters are rural, thus resulting in pork-barrel projects for their district in return for votes….nothing new there…..

Of course after WWII, Japan’s number one priority was the reconstruction of it’s infrastructure. As it’s well known for, Japan was able to rebuild it’s country and rapidly become the 2nd richest country in the world. It appears Japan continued this “rebuilding the country” even though it was no longer necessary. It wasn’t until the economic bubble burst that the corruption and pork-barrel projects finally started to be exposed to the public negatively by the mass media. A majority of the public were already aware of this issue however, this time the public took some action because now the recession was directly affecting them financially. Prior, with the economy strong, most political corruption or illegal dealings were in the most part ignored.

Note: The top left picture, on the right shoulder there is a barrier fence that appears to be open like window blinds. In the spring and summer this barrier fence is actually compacted down, laying alongside side the road as they’re not needed. When fall approaches, to prepare for winter, they raise the fence and angel each metal flat horizontal bar downwards, so when a strong winter wind gust goes through the barrier fence and onto the road, it prevents snow from accumulating on it.

The last two pictures (bottom right) you can see snow accumulating on Mt. Chokai. Some of the the locals call it the Mt. Fuji of North Eastern Japan, because of the resemblance.

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