If you quote William Gibson's analysis of Japanese society as authoritative or insightful, you already lose. Gibson's social commentary has always had a strong element of pseudointellectual profundity masquerading as depth.
In terms of tech adoption, Japan may have been ahead of the USA in some respects, but in terms of how their society is structured they're still a few decades behind. Their treatment of women, in particular, would strike an American as archaic and quaintly Mad Men at best, and at worst barbaric and abusive. But the expectation of men -- to attach oneself to the underbelly of some company and be taken care of for life in exchange for labor and undying loyalty -- also comes, in the American perspective, from a long-bygone era.
Younger Japanese (age 40 and below) tend to be more worldly and cognizant of other cultures, and understand that the social structures which served their parents and grandparents are keeping Japan held back and isolated, economically and socially. But because of deeply ingrained Confucian cultural values about submission to elders, there's little they can do about it. The gooey nougat of the hikikomori phenomenon is, it's sort of a quiet rebellion against the complicated and restrictive social protocols that are part and parcel of being Japanese. It is the same with otaku: however trivial their interests may be, they are determined to follow their own interests and choose their own path, rather than simply do what is expected of them.
Is it possible for mainstream Japanese society to evolve to be more flexible and accommodate more individuality, yet still remain distinctly Japanese? We don't know that yet. They haven't tried.
In terms of tech adoption, Japan may have been ahead of the USA in some respects, but in terms of how their society is structured they're still a few decades behind. Their treatment of women, in particular, would strike an American as archaic and quaintly Mad Men at best, and at worst barbaric and abusive. But the expectation of men -- to attach oneself to the underbelly of some company and be taken care of for life in exchange for labor and undying loyalty -- also comes, in the American perspective, from a long-bygone era.
Younger Japanese (age 40 and below) tend to be more worldly and cognizant of other cultures, and understand that the social structures which served their parents and grandparents are keeping Japan held back and isolated, economically and socially. But because of deeply ingrained Confucian cultural values about submission to elders, there's little they can do about it. The gooey nougat of the hikikomori phenomenon is, it's sort of a quiet rebellion against the complicated and restrictive social protocols that are part and parcel of being Japanese. It is the same with otaku: however trivial their interests may be, they are determined to follow their own interests and choose their own path, rather than simply do what is expected of them.
Is it possible for mainstream Japanese society to evolve to be more flexible and accommodate more individuality, yet still remain distinctly Japanese? We don't know that yet. They haven't tried.