The pace of social evolution sometimes feels as though it is in a state of continuous acceleration, driven by trends in government, science, demographics and business. The causes are complex and the solutions are uncertain, so we must choose our path wisely. Japan Up Close is pleased to welcome Professor Tyler Cowen, an economist with George Mason University in the United States, host of the Marginal Revolution economics blog, and author of The Complacent Class and many other works. He shares with us his views on whether the post-Bubble decades were truly “lost”, the effects of digitalization on Japanese society and industry, how digital disparity can be avoided, and how Japan can possibly leverage its position in future trade talks.