Tuesday

 

Mostly summarized from Gregory Mankiw’s Principles of Economics, 5th Ed.
PART 8 The Data22 of Macroeconomics
Chapter 24 of 36 Measuring The Cost of Living
Section 5 of 15
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Figure 1 – The Typical Basket of Goods and Services
This figure shows how the typical consumer divides spending among various categories of goods (and services).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, when constructing the consumer price index: tries to:
· include all the goods the typical consumer buys
· weight these goods by how much consumers buy of each
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Per Figure 1
Housing is the largest category, 43% of the typical consumer's budget.
This category includes:
· cost of shelter, 33%
· fuel and other utilities, 5%
· household furnishings and operation, 5%
Transportation is 17%, includes for cars, gasoline, buses, trains, and subways.
Food and beverages is 15%, includes:
· food at home, 8%
· food away from home, 6%
· alcoholic beverages, 1%
These three are about 6% each:
· medical care
· recreation
· education and communication, including college tuition and personal computers
Apparel, including clothing, footwear, and jewelry, is 4%.
Other goods including cigarettes and haircuts, is 3%.
… …
medical care
iryou
(Good chance Roman letters Japanese will be the future global language.)
… …
Historic arguments in Japan for converting to Japanese language using Roman letters.
ChatGPT:
Japan has had serious, recurring debates about replacing or supplementing kanji/kana with Roman letters (“romaji”) for over 150 years.
The movement is called “romaji-ron” — the Romanization debate”
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1. Meiji Era (1868–1912): Modernization & Westernization
After the Meiji Restoration, Japan urgently modernized to compete with the West.
Main Pro-Romanization Arguments
⦁ Literacy & Simplicity
Kanji were viewed as overly complex.
Learning thousands of characters slowed mass education.
Roman letters could dramatically reduce time needed to become literate.
⦁ Scientific & Technological Advancement
Western science used alphabetic systems.
Romanization would make translation easier.
It would integrate Japan faster into global academia.
⦁ Printing & Efficiency
Movable type for kanji was expensive and complicated.
Roman letters simplified publishing and printing
Fukuzawa Yukichi argued Japan should adopt Western knowledge systems — including possibly script reform.
Some reformers even proposed abolishing kanji entirely.
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2. Late 19th–Early 20th Century: Script Reform Movements
The Rōmaji-kai (Romanization Society)
In 1885, reformers formed the Rōmaji-kai (羅馬字会).
They argued:
⦁ Democracy & Equality
Kanji created an educated elite.
Roman letters would democratize literacy.
⦁ National Efficiency
Faster writing
Easier typewriters
Streamlined government paperwork
⦁ Global Identity
Japan would become more internationally accessible.
Foreigners could learn Japanese more easily.
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3. Post-World War II (1945–1950s): American Occupation Debate
After WWII, under the Allied occupation led by Douglas MacArthur, script reform resurfaced.
Arguments at the Time
⦁ Democratization
Simplifying the writing system would modernize Japan.
Reduce educational barriers.
⦁ Efficiency in Rebuilding
Faster communication.
Easier bureaucracy.
⦁ American Influence
Some U.S. officials believed Romanization would align Japan culturally with the West.
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However:
Japanese scholars resisted.
Cultural identity concerns dominated.
Instead of abolishing kanji, Japan limited and standardized them (creating the Tōyō Kanji list, later the Jōyō Kanji list).
Romanization was ultimately rejected as a full replacement.
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4. Core Historical Arguments in Favor
Across eras, pro-Romanization thinkers consistently argued:
⦁ Educational Efficiency
Children spend years memorizing kanji.
Roman letters would free cognitive resources.
⦁ Global Integration
English-based alphabet easier for trade & diplomacy.
Reduce friction in international business.
⦁ Technological Compatibility
Typewriters and early computers favored alphabetic systems.
Romanization could modernize communication infrastructure.
⦁ Egalitarianism
Complex writing systems create social stratification.
Simpler systems broaden opportunity.
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5. Why It Never Happened
Opponents argued:
Kanji convey meaning visually at a glance.
Literary tradition would be disrupted.
Cultural identity would be weakened.
Japanese grammar works naturally with kana + kanji.
Once computers evolved, they made use of kana and kanji much easier.
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6. Modern Perspective
Today:
Roman letters are used for passports, branding, street signs.
But full replacement is considered highly unlikely.
Japan mostly sees its writing system as a cultural asset, more important than ease of language learning and use.