The reason why town centre malls (and those near train stations) work well is that there are other things there that attract people, such as libraries, schools, hospitals, cinemas, etc. As a result, these places are destinations in themselves, ie. there is a “there” there, if that makes sense!

But given the Japanese government’s ongoing desire to preserve its economy in perfect shape for the mass-manufacturing world of 1985, and the ensuing economic stagnation this has created, very few Japanese consumers (especially beyond Tokyo) have much money to spend beyond buying the very basics. Henry Ford knew 100 years ago that in order to sell his Model Ts, he had to pay his workers enough to be able to afford them. Corporate Japan has yet to wake up to this in general.

The elederly have the wealth, but no desire to spend it. Young Japanese people have no spare money to drive out to an alleged “destination” miles from anywhere simply for the dubious pleasure of making some developers rich. If they had any idea of the world outside of their own heads, they would realise that those with the money don’t have the time to go far away without a purpose, and prefer to spend money somewhere genuine and fun, or to buy what they need on-line.

In “normal” countries shopping mall are at most 15 minutes away, without expensive toll bridges. Its no surprise that the restaurant in the middle is the main attraction, only a fool could have expected otherwise.

What the article, of course as is usual in japanese media, does not make clear, is the simply fact thát Japan’s decline will continue if the way the personnage reaches administrative positions is not changed radically.
The sad truth is that when it comes to competence, Japan because of its unbelievable corruption is on a level with Zimbabwe, it is on a direct way to incredible poverty for anyone without clout…..