He also shows how the fall or rise in the Japanese economy is extremely important in order for Japan to deal with the problem of industrializing. To him, the foundation of the whole problem is how to institute social power over the "forces of production.".
The author illustrates with suitable historical detail as he traces the first time usage of the bulldozer into Japan in the 1950s to the damming of practically every river by 1994. It was obvious that Japan was becoming so industrialized that it was the first place other nations would turn to for advice rather than the usual United States or Germany. However, in spite of all the economic achievements, McCormack then points out how too much development could be damaging as well. The authors writes, "Japanese expansion has outrun the social and political structures necessary to determine social priorities and needs and has begun to threaten the fragile ecosystem." The head of the hydrological section at Japan's Geological Survey is quoted on political measure: "The construction companies, politicians, and elite bureaucrats--all three elements are conspiring to stuff Japan with dams." Without a doubt, Japan was rapidly climbing the ladder of capitalization, however, McCormack points out how the causing of environmental problems and excessive government spending could really hurt Japan in the end. He argues that until this problem is recognized, very little can be done to help bring Japan's economy back up to where it once was before. The author strongly emphasizes how the Japanese economy will continue to be troubled unless Japan decides to work towards the future in a brighter light.
The modification of the book happened during the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, an occurrence that McCormack employs to support his argument for Japan's increasing knowledge of its surplus. In one of his categories reflecting the extremes of Japan, the author criticizes what he calls "the leisure state" and its 1987 Resort Law.
