Exploring Japan's economic paradox and future projections, the podcast delves into the challenges of applying animal-tested therapies to humans. It also highlights the rise of etiquette classes and the evolution of manners in the digital age.
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Quick takeaways
Japan's economy shows signs of recovery with improving inflation and stock markets, reflecting a shift from stagnation.
Biomedical therapies tested on animals have a low success rate in human applications, highlighting translational challenges in medical research.
Deep dives
Japan's Economic Turnaround: The Optimistic Viewpoint
Japan's economy has shown signs of improvement with inflation exceeding 2% since April 2022. Wages are increasing, stock markets are flourishing, and the central bank has raised interest rates after 17 years. This positive outlook reflects a shift from the prolonged stagnation Japan has faced.
Japan's Economic Challenges: The Pessimistic Perspective
Despite inflation rising, Japan has experienced periods of contraction or minimal growth. Some argue that structural issues persist, including demographic challenges and a weakening currency. The workforce is shrinking, raising concerns about the country's long-term economic prospects.
The Debate on Animal Testing: Translatability to Human Treatments
Research indicates that only around 5% of biomedical therapies tested on animals receive final approval by the FDA. Studies analyzing outcomes from animal tests to human trials reveal limited success rates. Rigorous animal studies with reproducible results show higher predictive accuracy for human outcomes, highlighting the complexities of translatability in medical research.
After decades of torpor, is Japan recovering its dynamism? Our correspondent turns to an ancient bento box merchant to test Japan’s economic future. A new study shows how few therapies tested on animals end up being applied to humans (10:02). And if you don’t know a pickle fork from a fish fork, it could be time to take an etiquette class (16:28).