Colin M. Lam

When Luda mentioned only 17.5% of Japanese citizens hold a valid Japanese passport, I almost spat out the miso soup I was drinking. This is shockingly low. For context, it is estimated that roughly 70% of Canadians hold one. Economics might explain part of the gap, but it is not likely the most significant factor in this case. Countries with similar real GDP per capita levels as Japan – a measure often used as a proxy for standard of living – such as Spain and South Korea are estimated to have significantly higher passport ownership rates. Also, Japan’s passport is among the world’s strongest. What, then, could be the cause?