The Japanese government deliberately keeps the country socially and technologically stagnant just so anime and manga from 20 years ago stay relevant.
Hear me out. Have you ever wondered why a country known for high-tech still uses flip phones, fax machines, and tons of paper bureaucracy? It’s all a massive government cover-up to protect the Media Mix!
Think about it, a manga started in 2004 gets an anime adaptation in 2014, and people are still watching it today. If Japan adapted to modern technologies and completely changed its lifestyle, those adaptations would instantly lose their relatability and vibe. By keeping the high school uniforms, the flip phones, and the overall aesthetic the same for decades, they ensure that older anime never feels outdated.
Even their birth rate crisis fits this! So many romance and slice-of-life manga rely heavily on the drama of shrinking school clubs or government matchmaking programs. If Japan fixed its demography, half of the modern anime plots would fall apart and become alternate history.
The Japanese government is basically the world's biggest production assistant, sacrificing real-world progress to protect the manga timelines!