No.0149：The Silent Majority：Voices That Never Surface
April 28,2026
Extreme opinions attract “likes” online, and in meetings, the opinions of those who speak forcefully often dominate the atmosphere. Behind them, however, there are many people who remain silent while feeling that something is not quite right. This time, I would like to think about those voices that never surface, the silent majority.
 
The Strange Feeling I Get from the Number of “Likes”
When I look at comments on news sites, I often find myself thinking that some of the arguments are quite extreme. From one particular angle, they may be absolutely right. But at the same time, they completely ignore the obvious problems that come with that view. And yet, opinions like that, as heavily seasoned as yakiniku drenched in sauce, tend to get a lot of “likes.” My guess is that most people are simply watching, or just passing by, while only a certain group of people is reacting strongly. It is like a shop with glittering online reviews, even though the actual service is not very good, the kind of place that might get scolded by the Advertising Council.
 
The Atmosphere Where You Can No Longer Say “But”
The same thing happens frequently in company meetings. Early in the meeting, a loud and biased opinion is delivered with a bang by a boss who has authority but only knows how to talk. It is a strategy of seizing the initiative. At that point, the outcome is mostly decided. After that, the boss’s followers continue with their flattery, and the meeting reaches its climax. Once that kind of atmosphere has been created, the “but…” opinions that quite a few people probably have are sealed at their lips, along with a vague sense of discomfort. It is almost like brainwashing, where thought is gradually taken away through something repeated day after day by an overwhelming majority.
 
The Silence AI Cannot Pick Up
AI also has a similar tendency to silently ignore certain voices. The main sources AI learns from are written information such as the internet and books. That means bias naturally arises in its learning materials. The opinions of many people who do not post information online and who receive information passively are less likely to reach AI. On the other hand, there is a concern that the intentions of powerful people, who have broad influence and the ability to spread information widely, may greatly affect AI’s judgment. Furthermore, around half of internet content is written in English. As a result, AI naturally becomes more likely to reflect the values of the English-speaking world. On top of that, most of the AI systems we use are made in the United States.
 
Because of this, it is possible that we may unconsciously come to accept American values and priorities as normal, without even feeling any discomfort. If AI were used as a political bargaining chip, like oil or rare earths, with supply being restricted, that would be extremely dangerous. That is why people are calling for the importance of domestically developed AI, AI that Japan can control, AI that fully understands Japanese traditions, culture, and values, and AI that is truly Japanese in character. Yet it is very disappointing that there has still been little visible progress. It is like a pitiful middle-aged worker who spends every day on internal coordination and following precedent, only to lose portable skills and become locked inside a declining company.
 
Anger Left Behind Gives Rise to Authority
Even in the United States, angry people who felt left behind sought salvation in President Trump. These were white Americans who had worked in manufacturing industries that were declining within the United States. Globalization, free trade, trickle-down economics, the idea that if those at the top make money, those below will eventually benefit too, to hell with all of that. The elites who keep talking about such things have brought us nothing. Worse still, they have been making money for themselves somewhere out of sight.
It is ironic that this kind of frustration gave rise to an authoritarian figure like President Trump.
 
The Danger of Thinking “That Person Will Change Things”
In both Japan and the United States, I feel that authoritarian currents are spreading as a result of ignoring voices that never became audible. People begin to think, “Surely that person will change things.” It is the result of seeking overwhelming strength. I am not comfortable with that kind of thing. If I have to suppress myself and conform to peer pressure while thinking, “If I say this, someone important will get angry,” I start to feel suffocated. A little while ago, we often heard the phrase “psychological safety.” Recently, I do not hear it as much. I want to believe that is just my imagination. If it is being mocked in the same way climate change is dismissed as “woke” nonsense, I would be very disappointed.
 
It is not that there is no opposition.
Isn’t it actually that people cannot oppose?