Poverty in Japan – Are there poor Japanese people?

Japan is considered a wealthy nation and one of the largest economies in the world with a negative unemployment rate, good security, and an organized use of taxes. Many end up creating the illusion that in Japan there are only rich people, and if we imagine the minimum wage of 5000 reais and a cost of living that can be lower than that of Brazil, we can dream that in Japan poverty is zero or very different from poverty in Brazil.

The Japanese culture also has its problems; the way Japan functions leaves 20 million people on the poverty line, a large part being single women and the elderly. It is clear that poverty in Japan is different from the poverty that many imagine around the world, but a large part of the population lives on the limit of their salaries.

Poverty may be rarely visible but is present in the poor neighborhoods and slums, among the homeless, people who lose all credibility in the job market, people who lose their material possessions in natural disasters, or those who use their entire salary to pay expenses and debts. No matter the country, poverty is inevitable, as we are part of a capitalist system that does not benefit everyone.

Single mothers and poor elderly in Japan

Japan makes financial life difficult for single mothers, especially if they have children while in school. Many pregnant students end up dropping out or are even forced to drop out of their studies and do not attend college. This ends up eliminating the possibilities of finding decent jobs, making the mother resort to factory jobs and risky work while taking care of the child alone.

The job prospects for single women and the elderly are usually not good. Many Japanese companies only hire strong young people and avoid hiring uneducated individuals, those approaching old age, or those with other specific problems. The jobs these people manage to get are low-paying (50% of the average salary) and without hope for promotion.

It doesn’t matter if the single mother receives government assistance or if the elderly person is retired. The amount they receive is insufficient to sustain themselves, causing them to depend on family or take odd jobs to earn extra money. Some even resort to stealing; the rate of retired individuals stealing in Japan has risen significantly in recent years.

The visible poverty on the streets of Japan

It is difficult to say how many Japanese are technically “poor” in Japan, but it is safe to say that we do not easily find rows of houses and families living in terrible conditions or people starving. Japan hides poverty so well that we can hardly imagine that there are poor Japanese people.

In large cities like Tokyo, we will eventually find people lying on cardboard at night in the street, tents and makeshift shelters appearing in parks and disappearing at dawn. And especially hungry people in a line waiting to receive soup. Of course, not everyone living on the street is poor.

There are many personal aspects that cause a person to live in poverty, such as pride or the idea of never accepting help from the government or family. Others are simply kicked out of their homes or flee for personal reasons. Some are simply mentally ill; we address all of this in our article about homeless people in Japan.

The truth is that there are poor people living on the street collecting cans and doing jobs that offer very low pay. We can see these examples of poverty in anime and dramas like Hinamatsuri and Yamada tarou monogatari.

Other reasons causing poverty in Japan

Although Japan is a rich and cheap country, some things end up causing poverty to spread differently in Japanese society. Raising a child in Japan is extremely expensive; healthcare is paid, public schools are paid, and various services that could be free require some cost, even if small, which can be a cause of poverty.

Taxes, although well used, are also not usually low. A large percentage of your salary is typically used to cover household expenses and food. Japan is also a capitalist country dominated by a large leisure and entertainment industry that makes you spend your money without even realizing it, leaving many bankrupt.

The aspects of poverty in Japan are so obvious, yet it is inexplicably difficult to convince people that they exist. Loan sharks, hostess clubs, shows, prostitution, pachinko, and various other factors contribute to the bankruptcy and slave labor of many Japanese. Some adult children even live with their parents as hikikomori without working.

There are countless reasons why Japanese people face financial difficulties; the important thing is to make it clear that even if poverty is not at high levels or as severe as in other countries, it exists and is present in society just like in any country. What is your opinion on the matter? I hope to address more aspects of the topic in other articles. We appreciate the comments!