Japan is safe in part because theyre culturally homogenous. That culture drills in a sense of obligation to the point of being oppressive. Obligation of the children to the parents, the parents to the company and even the company to society at large. It creates stability, but often at the expense of flexibility. Then there's the sense of shame when you fail to live up to that obligation.
> It creates stability, but often at the expense of flexibility.
Also at the expense of individualism.
The freedom to think differently gives us many different issues in the western world. But I still think it's worth it. Making the most of one's life is important.
Also I don't think law enforcement is the biggest factor in reducing crime. It doesn't eliminate the need for people to commit crimes, it just moves it to less policed areas. The bigger problem is disenfranchised and low-opportunity groups. If all the chances you have in life are to be a minimum wage burger flipper then it's easy to become disenfranchised and turn to crime that does offer you chances. Increasing the risk will also increase the potential rewards as the war on drugs and prohibition have shown.
I think our cities in Europe are safer because people have more economic equality and a better welfare safety net for when things really go wrong. And our prisons are a lot milder than the US's or Japan's. Especially in the exceptionally safe Scandinavian countries.
Not sure how Japan deals with welfare but I wouldn't consider this just a law enforcement issue.
US culture doesn't trap people in minimum wage jobs their entire lives. Even fast food places have raises and promotions. Maybe you're being hyperbolic there? It does generally require people to work and try, which can appear impossible if they lack a working parent or other role model to help them believe they can do it. This is not something welfare solves though. It possibly makes it worse. Something like shop classes in schools (which used to exist) and apprenticeships would be a direct solution, because as we constantly hear, the jobs are there looking for people.
