Western values ‘are causing mental illness’ [in Japan]
Leo Lewis, London Times
I don’t think it’s so much “Western values” that are hurting the Japanese, unless they’re talking about what I call the “Market partisanship” (i.e., a willingness to believe that the Realm of the Market can do no wrong) that can sometimes run amok in Western culture. But “Western values” have also traditionally included strong family ties and more importantly, a strong tendency to be involved in religious services and activities. If these things were present in healthy ways in Japanese culture, they wouldn’t be having as much of the problems that they are having.
