Society 5.0 and Digital Society: A Narrative Review of Challenges and Prospects faced by Policy Makers in Japan and Vietnam

Abstract Book of the 10th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities

Year: 2026

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Society 5.0 and Digital Society: A Narrative Review of Challenges and Prospects faced by Policy Makers in Japan and Vietnam

Thi Viet Anh Nguyen

ABSTRACT:

This narrative review explores the evolving concepts of Society 5.0 and Digital Society, providing for their general situations, concepts, nature, “fruits” and challenges specifically focusing on Japan and Vietnam. Society 5.0 is a Japan’s vision where it is fostering solidarity and connection between human and technology by addressing societal challenges and improving quality of life. In return, Vietnam’s Digital society vision is a society that naturally integrates digital technology into all aspects of life. This article attempts to comprehend how policy makers make policy “easier to use” for citizens in Society 5.0 and Digital Society contexts. And to answer how these approaches could cultivate mutual trust between policy makers and users. It uses a qualitative method by collecting, reviewing and analyzing academic literature relating to policy design thinking and communication from Japan and Vietnam relating to Society 5.0 and Digital Society. These included peer-reviewed papers, government documents, and authoritative institutional publications released between 2016 to present. The purpose is to explore the differences and similarities in concept, nature and “fruits” between the two countries over the past decade, evaluate theoretical prospects, identify key challenges, and to provide useful references for other countries where it is going through a similar situation. The article concludes with the implications and prospects posed to public policymakers who face tremendous challenges in regulating, addressing the rising socio-economic and technological issues under the current context. Decision-makers are suggested to address the challenges and implement suitable policy recommendations and put into practice where it is urgently concerned.

Keywords: Empathy; Human-Centered Policy Design Thinking; Policy Communication; Power Over; Power With;