“The World and Japan”
Interview given by Ando Tadao in Nikkei Shimbun’s column:

“Japan is really at the edge, falling off the earth. It used to have a first-class economy, and third-class politics. Now that the economy has stopped, and the politics is completely stuck, it feels even more isolated.
The problem with Japan is that it became so wealthy which led to the Japanese being so used to having everything under control. They don’t like to go to places that would make them feel uncomfortable, nervous or unstable. They try to avoid the world.
But life is actually not like this. Most people in the rest of the world know about it. When you are outside of Japan, you really have to deal with this kind of people who knows about the realities of the world.

What is lacking in Japan or in the Japanese? English speaking ability and the sense of business. The Japanese cannot judge or make a decision quick enough. But the Japanese has good sides too, such as sensitivity, endurance, and being cooperative. That works in an island country.
Japan had very strong goals during the Meiji Restoration and after World War 2. But now we have globalisation, we do not have strong leaders, and as a nation we have no dreams. Now is the time that individuals have to have goals rather than wait to be handed down some kind of purpose or dream …”

(part of interview, paraphrased by KM)