It is kind of ironic for 50 years, 1895-1945, Japan was the bully of the region and China was weak.
Now, 70 years later, China is the military powerhouse and Japan has stopped developing due to a low birth rate engineered by post-war US occupation.
“Now, 70 years later, China is the military powerhouse and Japan has stopped developing due to a low birth rate engineered by post-war US occupation.”
I think Japan developed its own birthrate problem. For nations a high birthrate is required to compete. But for individuals, where the birthrate rubber meets the birthrate road, it’s all about how many children you can afford. By keeping home prices and food ridiculously high it was Japan that limited its birthrate.
Japan could have allowed real estate development but lacked the will. They could have allowed more imported food, but could not overcome the politics. They could have adopted a true free market, which would have lowered prices, but chose to protect their existing industrial structure. It is Japan who must be blamed for their birthrate problem. Just as Russia caused theirs and Greece theirs.