The Values that Define a Society.

As the world's second largest economy, Japan appears to be relatively oblivious to the global concerns associated with a hungry economic giant. The uniform lack of organic foods, unusually excessive packaging [bagging bags at the store is common practice], and an obsessive culture of consumption all suggest an indifference towards global environmental and labor practices, for example. This makes one wonder: Where is the counterculture?

For a critical but refreshing indictment of Japan's contemporary cultural condition, read "Beware of Beauty that Would Deceive a Nation" from The Japan Times.

In the image above, shoppers crowd a major Shibuya sidewalk.