Includes bibliographical references and index.

What domestic issues face the people of Japan? Japan is encouraging population growth / Robert D. Retherford and Naohiro Ogawa ; Japan is not encouraging population growth / Jane Ferretti ; Women's rights are respected in Japan / Yoriko Meguro ; Women's rights are not respected in Japan / Satoko Kogure ; Japan is becoming more accepting of immigrants / Minoru Matsutani ; Japan does not accept immigrants / David McNeill -- What global role does Japan play? Japanese manufacturing businesses succeed globally / Jack Smith ; Japanese entertainment businesses suffer globally / Roland Kelts ; Japan has a right to preserve its whaling heritage / Colin Woodard ; Japan has no whaling heritage to preserve / Atsushi Ishii and Ayako Okubo -- How does modern living conflict with tradition in Japan? Entrepreneurs are succeeding in Japan / Veronica Chambers ; Business traditions cause most Japanese entrepreneurs to fail / The Economist ; The traditional lifestyle has kept obesity low in Japan / Benjamin Senauer and Masahiko Gemma ; Modern dietary changes have created obesity-related health problems in Japan / Rena Singer ; Japanese funerals are a standardized social ritual / Andrew Bernstein ; Pre-funerals in contemporary Japan / Satsuki Kawano -- How does Japan reconcile its past with its present? Japan has not fairly compensated its World War II victims / Eamonn Fingleton ; Japan has officially recognized the rights of its indigenous people / Mariko Sakai and Shozo Nakayama ; Some Japanese traditions are on the decline / Anthony Faiola ; Renewed respect as geisha make a comeback, and take to cyberspace / Justin McCurry.