Whither Japan's innovative culture?

TOKYO • The 1964 Tokyo Olympics left an indelible impact as Japan showcased to the world innovations such as high-speed rail and pictograms, used to represent the different sports and amenities such as male and female toilets, which have become a ubiquitous language that bridges communication barriers worldwide.

But present-day Japan seems to have lost its edge even if it is still regarded as a technological powerhouse.