Japan vs. Israel: A Study in Contrasts

I recently fulfilled one of my oldest dreams – to visit Japan. My wife and I spent 3 weeks there – 10 days as part of a tour and 10 days on our own. Japan did not disappoint. It was everything I had hoped it would be.

I am no social scientist and have not undertaken a careful study of Japanese society but I was struck by several fundamental aspects of Japan which are the complete opposite of Israel. First of all, Japan is a homogeneous society with a long and essentially undisputed history. Secondly, it has never been fully invaded nor colonized by foreigners. Third, Japan has a collective, not individual, orientation. The Japanese do not like to argue. Fourth, in Japan people are often “mindful” – they are polite and focus on what they are doing. Finally, Japan has a low birthrate and a stagnant economy. In each of these categories Israel is the virtual opposite. It is worth examining each aspect more closely.

Japan is an homogeneous society. Although there are regional variations, over 98% of the population is ethnically Japanese. It is difficult to become a Japanese citizen though not as difficult as it used to be. Japan also has an extremely long history. It can trace its roots back almost 50,000 years. The details of its history are not in dispute. Given the pronounced homogeneity, there is some justification in making generalizations about the “character” of the country.

Israel is anything but homogeneous. It is made up of a multitude of sectors, each dramatically different from the other. It is 73% Jewish, 21% Arab and about 6% “other.” The Jewish population is divided between Sephardic Jews (55%), i.e., Jews from Arab countries and Ashkenazim (45%), Jews from Eastern Europe. These two main components of the Jewish population have dramatically different cultural background and different customs. Israel is a raucous society which welcomes immigrants, especially those facing oppression and discrimination in other countries. (Not only Jews. Menachem Begin welcomed Vietnamese boat people.) But an intensively diverse society does not share customs and has different interpretations of law. The fact that the government is arbitrary and selective in its enforcement of laws contributes to the sense of chaos and anarchy.

Although Jews have resided in the area which comprises the modern state of Israel for 3,000 years, the current incarnation, the State of Israel, has been in existence for a mere 76 years, every year of which is disputed.

Secondly, Japan has never been invaded or fully occupied by another country except as a result of losing World War II. During its long history, Japan has had centuries of brutal war but always civil war. People feared local warlords, not outside conquerors. In fact, Japan has invaded and subjugated others including its much bigger neighbors, Russia and China.

Israelis cannot imagine such an existence. In the 3,000 years of the existence of the ancient and modern political entities of Judea/Israel, the area has been invaded and subjugated countless times. There has never been a period in which the Jewish state was not under threat. Even today it is under the threat of annihilation by Iran, a much larger country and fellow member of the United Nations.

Thirdly, Japan is a collective society. It is oriented around society and not around the individual. There is an extensive and historic infrastructure of rules and customs which govern all aspects of behavior – from basic civil and criminal laws to the most micro such as table manners and interpersonal relations. Everyone obeys the rules. The Japanese would not think of jaywalking, even at 3 am with absolutely no traffic and no pedestrians in sight. People line up in an orderly way for public transportation. No one would think of trying to jump the line. There is no litter anywhere – and no trash cans. Everyone is expected to carry their trash around with them and dispose of it at home. As part of this collective responsibility, Japan seems to discourage consumption. Discarding large items such as suitcases, for example, involves fees and permits. And it is considered bad manners to leave food on your plate. You eat whatever you order. There is little noise. Everyone behaves according to the rules even in the absence of police. Individuals do not expect special treatment nor do they seek advantage over others. The Japanese are the embodiment of Kant’s categorical imperative – ‘act in such a way that if everyone were to act that way, it would be good.’ This makes Japan a seemingly “peaceful” place (at least for Israeli tourists).

The question of the collective vs. the individual in Israel is complicated and paradoxical. Israel began with a socialist, collectivist orientation. This was key for survival, reflected, for example, in such institutions as the kibbutz. Children were raised together. Israel’s dramatic economic success has contributed to its increasing individualism. (Nevertheless, even today, as Israel has become capitalistic, children are still expected to function in groups.)

While an Israeli can be rude, thoughtless and abrasive, he would also die for you. Literally. In times of external threat, Israel coalesces and selfishness vanishes. People suddenly behave well and care for one another. By the end of the first day of the recent Hamas war on Israel, citizens had set up “war rooms” to see to the needs of soldiers, survivors of the attacks, etc. This, while the government was paralyzed. The mobilization of the private sector for the common good was extraordinary and inspiring. But the moment an existential threat recedes, Israelis revert to a more Hobbesian existence – being special and exempt from the rules. This is exemplified by the 11^th commandment – “thou shall not be a frier,” i.e., a “sucker.” Thou shalt seek advantage at the expense of your fellow man – even if there is no benefit. Kant has no place here. Israelis do things routinely which no Japanese would even contemplate. This makes life in Israel sometimes tiring and stressful.

A related difference is the issue of argument. Asians abhor argument and binary logic vs. the Israeli tendency towards argumentation and certainty. Japanese anthropologist Nobuhiro Nagashima observes that to the Asian mind, “to argue with logical consistency . . . may not only be resented but [may] also be regarded as immature.” Eastern thought is comfortable with logical contradictions and seeks the truth in both sides. Consensus reigns. Israelis love to argue and insist upon “winning.” This contrast is further reflected in different approaches to culture. The Japanese dread the explicit and appreciate the symbolic. Israelis prefer clarity.

The Japanese practice mindfulness. They focus intensely on what they are doing. They have developed highly sophisticated rituals around simple activities. A good example is the tea ceremony which people often study for years. They have turned an otherwise common act into a powerful and meaningful ritual, one in which the practitioner strives to go deeper and deeper. An entire room is devoted to the practice which begins with a thorough cleaning of the room. This is a metaphor for many activities which are done with great focus. Not living in fear of being invaded and having a homogeneous population may partially explain how a society can enjoy such a luxury.

Israelis are the consummate multi-taskers, often unable to focus. They are anything but polite. For us, things are generally “good enough” except when they really aren’t. There are both civil and religious rituals in Israel but their practice is different from that of the Japanese.

Finally, we knew that Japan has a low birthrate but were surprised by the paucity of children and playgrounds. Japan’s fertility rate is 1.3[1] (births/woman over her lifespan). (2.1 is required for a population to remain stable absent immigration or emigration). For context, the highest fertility rates are found in Africa (4-6) while Europe is ~ 1.4, the US is 1.7 and Israel is 2.9 (!). Japan’s low birth rate is not a new phenomenon. The population peaked in 2009 at 128 million[2] and currently stands at 122 million. It is expected to decline to 74 million by 2100. So far, even the most optimistic population projections have proven to be optimistic. Japan has among the oldest populations and whole geographic areas have become depopulated. According to the Economic Times (Japan),[3] the country’s birth rate recently hit an “unprecedented low for the eighth consecutive year.” They argue that the next 6 years represent Japan’s last chance to reverse this trend.

There are many factors contributing to this problem. First of all, the economy remains weak (see below). The cost of living is high compared to salaries and the job market is poor. Secondly, Japan remains a highly patriarchal society with entrenched family values. Women are expected to take care of the home, the children, and the husband as well as the in-laws. By law, spouses must share a surname (usually the husband’s but not necessarily). Japan’s corporate culture is incompatible with dual-working parents. The Times also notes “societal discomfort with crying babies and children playing outdoors” as compounding the problem. Japan’s fertility situation is perfectly encapsulated by the recent press release by a major Japanese manufacturer of diapers. It announced that it would terminate its domestic diaper business for babies while focusing on disposable diapers for adults where growth is anticipated.[4]

Japan’s low birth rate may be connected to its stagnant economy. An economic powerhouse in the 1980s, the economy (as measured by nominal GDP per capita) has been essentially stagnant since the mid1990s. GDP peaked in 2012 at $49k but has since slipped to roughly $40k – for the last 10 years, the “lost decade.” The IMF estimates that Japan’s nominal GDP per capita in 2024 will be $33k. Given that the population is declining, this number may be worse than it looks.

Shockingly, Israel’s GDP per capita in 2024 is expected to be $53k, 60% higher than that of wealthy Japan! Of course the current war may cause that number to be significantly lower. Still, Israel has experienced relatively steady GDP growth for the last 10 years. And given its strong population growth, the GDP per capita may be stronger than it looks.

At 2.9, Israel’s fertility rate is by far the highest of the 27[5] OECD (Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. The fertility rate may be the single most important indicator of the health of a society. A high rate indicates a high level of satisfaction, sense of purpose and attitude towards the future. Indeed, counter-intuitively, Israel is the 4^th happiest country in the world[6] compared to 51^st for Japan and 23 for the US, despite having neighbors devoted to its destruction. The flip side is the suicide rate. Japan’s is more than twice that of Israel (12.2 vs. 5.2 age-standardized, per 100,000 population).[7]

The bottom line? Japan was a welcome respite for war-weary Israeli tourists. It is fascinating, beautiful, peaceful and aesthetic but apparently, does not seem to think it has a future. In the absence of immigration and dramatic changes in its naturalization process, Japan will slowly disappear. Israelis believe in their country, their purpose and the future, no matter how bad things seem at the moment.

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With thanks to Henri Noach and Debbie and Yair Amichai, friends and long term residents of Kyoto who reviewed these thoughts and contributed important points. They also graciously hosted me and my wife in their homes.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_fertility_rate

[2] https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/JPN/japan/population-growth-rate

[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/why-is-japan-grappling-with-record-low-birth-rates-heres-what-the-govt-said/articleshow/108116336.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

[4] https://www.ojiholdings.co.jp/Portals/0/resources/content/files/english/ir/news/2024/EN04nd03.pdf?TabModule1281=0

[5] Australia Austria Belgium Canada Chile Czech republic Denmark Estonia Finland ,France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israël Italy Japan, Korea Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland, Portugal Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom United States.

[6] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/happiest-countries-in-the-world

[7] World Health Organization, 2019