he lashed out at the “modern Japanese urban environment,” claiming that sex toys, automated restaurants and a more general lack of “natural human interaction” were responsible for falling birthrates and a dearth of human connection

 During his trip to Asia, he lashed out at the “modern Japanese urban environment,” claiming that sex toys, automated restaurants and a more general lack of “natural human interaction” were responsible for falling birthrates and a dearth of human connection.

More and more, he expressed frustration that society at large seemed incapable of addressing these longstanding problems, and he expressed interest in those who said that violence might be a necessary next step.

lash out

phrasal verb of lash

1. 1.

   hit or kick out at someone or something.

   "the woman had lashed out in fear"

   Similar:

   hit out

   strike

   let fly

   take a swing

   set upon

   turn on

   round on

   attack

   weigh into

   lay into

   tear into

   pitch into

   lace into

   sail into

   set about
2. 2.

   British

   spend money extravagantly.

   "I decided to lash out and treat myself"

   Similar:

   spend lavishly

   be extravagant

   pay out

   spend a lot of money

   splash out