Giving Compass' Take:

• Pew Research Center reports on a recent survey among respondents in Japan that show how most are dissatisfied with the nation’s democracy, politicians and elections, even though confidence in the economy is strong.

• Among the reasons for such a pessimistic view are concerns over automation and the future of work, along with a distrust in the democratic process. Sound familiar? What can the U.S. learn from such discontent in Asia?

• Here are some lessons from the rise of women workers in Japan.

Japanese feel better about their economy than at any time in nearly two decades. But the overall mood in Japan remains wary, if not pessimistic. The prevailing view is that average people are worse off than before the Great Recession, while few think the next generation will fare any better.

Automation is one reason the future may not be so bright for ordinary people: Majorities of Japanese say growing reliance on robots and computers will lead to joblessness and income inequality. And less than half the public is satisfied with the way democracy is working in Japan, while more than half hold the view that politicians do not care about ordinary people, that they are corrupt and that elections ultimately do not change much.

These are among the key findings from a Pew Research Center survey conducted May 24 to June 19, 2018, among 1,016 respondents in Japan.

Read the full article about Japan's bleak view of the future by Bruce Stokes and Kat Devlin at Pew Research Center.