日本の職人礼賛はどこかおかしい｜Revisiting Japan’s Craftsman Myth — How Nostalgia Halts Innovation

Japan’s media often glorifies craftsmen as cultural heroes, preserving a nostalgic image of “perfect technique” inherited from the past. But behind this romantic narrative lies a more complicated reality: many craftsmen entered their trade for stability, not artistic使命, and Japan’s long-held belief that “skill alone will save us” has slowed adaptation to global competition. By comparing Japan with Southeast Asia, this episode reveals how the craftsman myth became a barrier to innovation and a source of cultural stagnation. Tradition should be respected—but not idolized. Only by reexamining this myth can Japan rediscover a more flexible and honest way forward.