Europe's debates over immigration, integration, and national identity did not begin overnight.
They grew gradually, year after year, until they became impossible to ignore.
Japan is now facing many of the same questions.
Population change affects housing, education, welfare, labor markets, and social cohesion.
Ignoring these issues will not make them disappear.
A country's future is shaped by the choices it makes today.
Japan still has time to discuss these challenges openly and honestly.
The question is not whether change is coming.
The question is whether Japan is prepared for it.