Committee Orientation Activity The committee leader, Ty Dalwave, wants the team to be aware of their biases when doing research. To build that awareness, he has asked everyone to reflect on their worl
Surname 4 Niovy Ramirez 04/28/2021 Committee brief Japan The name of my selected country is Japan. Japan is a string of islands located on the eastern end of the Asian continent. It has four main islands, namely Hokkaido, Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku. It also boasts of 4000 smaller islands, and it borders Siberia in the north and Korea and China in the south (Aarons). Japan is a constitutional monarchy consisting of a Prime Minister who gets his power from the constitution. The Prime Minister is accountable to the Emperor of Japan. The government has a legislature, judiciary, and executive. The Prime Minister acts as the government’s chief executive, and he reserves the right to make cabinet appointees. He is also the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan. Education and Health Systems Japan has a renowned health care system and provides free health care to its citizens. People get their medical treatment from their universal health care system. This requires all their employed and unemployed citizens to enroll in the National Health Insurance plan. Their statutory health insurance system takes care of 98.3% of the population, and there is a Public Social Assistance Program that caters to the remaining impoverished people. The Japanese education system comprises six years in elementary, three in junior and high schools, and then two or three years in a junior college or four years in college. Everyone must undergo a compulsory education for nine years. Japan has one of the most educated populations in the world. Culture, Economy, and History Japan has a culture and tradition which are intertwined with sports and religion. They have two central beliefs, which are Shinto and Buddhism. However, there are two sides to their cultural aspect, with one being inherently deep-rooted in traditions and having a modern culture rapidly shifting with new trends. Japan has a free market economy and is the third biggest by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest by PPP. They have a robust economy, and even despite the Covid 19 pandemic, their economy only took a 1.2% deep compared to the European Union’s and America’s 2.4% and 4.8% decline, respectively (Wolf). They owe their thriving economy to increased foreign demand and a rebound in consumer spending. Japan has a rich history after being discovered by two Portuguese traders in 1543. Their history has changed through various leaders, and it was previously named Nihon before the name being changed in the 8th century. ASF’s Work Perception One of the problems ASF would face is the language barrier. Most people in Japan speak Japanese, with others knowing English, French, German and Russian (“What Languages Are Spoken In Japan?”). That would potentially cause a problem and a breakdown in communication. Another issue would be adhering to the new regulations, tax reports, and legal aspects involved in running a program in the country. There is also a potential that the locals would not be receptive to a new and foreign organization trying to come to their country to help them. People in my own country would have a similar reaction as being skeptical about foreigners is a common instinct in human nature. Nonetheless, the community would warm up to the foreigners and accept them to offer much-needed help. Actionable Solutions These problems could be sorted out by getting translators to help with communication. Additionally, getting a respected elder to introduce the foundation and its role in the community would be a great way to break the ice. Holding seminars and educative programs would also inform the locals on the program’s benefits, which would make them accept the help. For a successful program, ASF should incorporate local elders in its program, which would make the locals feel at ease as the information would be coming from people they trust. Also, the professionals should learn about what the locals believe in so that they can understandably convey their messages. Works Cited Aarons, A. The Four Largest Islands of Japan. (2019). Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/four-largest-islands-japan-50087.html What Languages Are Spoken In Japan? Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-japan.html Wolf, M. A temporary reversal of the recovery. (2021). Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/asia-pacific/japan-economic-outlook.html