[flocial]

I can't agree with you more. I remember coming across a blog of one such individual, rejected school and Japanese corporate society, drifted for a while but suddenly got the urge to quit being a NEET and traveled the world. Learned English, graduated an Australian college, got a seishain job at a Japanese company, became a dropout again, went to Singapore, multi-national company adores him.

The problem with the salary man system is it's so demographically bankrupt. Work to death on low pay while you're young, kick back and let the young work for you as you get older and better paid (co-opted by your more capable co-workers if you suck at what you do). Doesn't work with a shrinking population and dismal economy.

There are so many brilliant, young Japanese people out there and IT is a real magnet for them. But they're not the aggressive type either. The American equivalent wouldn't afraid to start a company or pick up women if they find someone attractive, though they may be more shy than the general population. The Japanese mirror national tendencies. I hope this crisis provokes long-lasting change. It's already given me some hope to see how the younger generation are taking more charge after seeing the power of technology to make real differences in the world.