Introduction: Science, Technology and Culture in 21st Century Japan

Japan literally exudes high technology. At a time when all countries in the world laud the benefits of the “new economy” and speak with nationalistic fervour about the importance of bridging digital divides, producing a highly skilled workforce and creating a culture of innovation, Japan appears to have already crossed the technological Rubicon. Japanese citizens are the world’s foremost users of the Internet and have pushed the development of the mobile Internet and e-commerce to new extremes. The country also leads the world — and by a huge amount — in the production and use of industrial robots. But equally important, Japanese companies have introduced dozens of new robots designed for domestic and light commercial use, foreshadowing the end of work in ihe traditional sense. At the other end of the technological spectrum, far removed from the introduction of practical and pragmatic solutions to everyday problems, Japanese scientists are at the cutting edge of research in biotechnology and nanotechnology and other converging traditional scientific fields.