In Japan, overtourism and rising immigration have become constant fuel for media outrage —and politicians might have noticed. Interestingly, many residents insist their feelings about these problems are genuine, justified frustration, and not prejudice.

Nations should embrace the aesthetics of pride, but they must also move beyond products to reflect the deeper, more complex realities of the country. Patriotism should not be measured by the number of flags or decorations one owns.