In this episode of The IR thinker, the discussion turns to Japan as seen through the eyes of long-term foreign residents, examining how expats perceive the country’s politics, society, demographics and place in global affairs.

Maya Matsuoka

I am joined by Maya Matsuoka, host of the talk show Japan Expert Insights, whose professional experience across education, travel and tourism, and IT in both Bulgaria and Japan offers a distinctive vantage point on contemporary Japan.

Maya Matsuoka is a long-term resident of Japan. She has worked both in Bulgaria and Japan, her career including positions in the education, travel and tourism, and IT industries.

Over the past two years, with the help of the Tim Sullivan, Maya has built Japan Expert Insights into a community hub for professionals who have substantial experience of working and doing businesses in Japan.

Content

00:00 - Introduction
02:59 - Japanese international voice in the last 10 years
05:22 - Japanese confidence in international relations
07:50 - Young Japanese and global politics
11:39 - Japanese elite universities
13:22 - Japanese political thinking
18:55 - Why changes in Japan take so long
23:50 - Abe’s impact on Japan
29:14 - Abe’s legacy
30:40 - Japanese domestic politics
32:40 - One political party in Japan
35:38 - Intellectual property decline
39:19 - Ageing and demographics
41:40 - Raising a child in Japan
46:15 - Ukraine and Japan
53:19 - Japanese regional relations