Okuyama believed that only pressure from the outside will force Japan to seriously confront its own societal dysfunction.

The more outsiders can expose and explain Japna's social ills, the more likely Japan's government will be shamed into becoming more responsive and seek help from outside experts.

Japanese are often fixated on what others, especially Westerners, think of them; and just as "keeping up appearances" is a strong constraint in domestic society, they are sometimes ready to bring their nation in line with certain global norms if sufficient pressure is applied.

Re: Shutting out the Sun, Michael Zielenziger. Chapter 3, A Long Tunnel, 2nd scene.