Modern Travelers in Japan

I found the final paragraph of if the millions of "Japan's Economy, at War with Itself" really interesting:

" Japanese now trapped in unproductive jobs are given better opportunities, Japan could enjoy the kind of renaissance now occurring in China and South Korea. If the role of women changes as fast in Japan as it has in China and South Korea, then the flood of highly educated women into productive jobs could further augment this boom." 

Recently Japan has become the new Reykjavík, replacing the Icelandic city as the most hip/popular vacation spot. The text was written in 2002, so I don't know much how Japan's economic status has changed in the past 17 years, but for most travelers and travel publications I know of, Japan, far more than China or South Korea, is among the most desired destiations for Western travelers to visit. I wonder if the influx of visitors helped change the job availability and/or gender roles in Japan, or if changes to these two things were important in inspiring the current wave of tourism.