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Share houses are one manifestation of poverty among women, which is less visible than poverty among men who become homeless. There is also research that shows that young people who have no fixed addre

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Rikkyo University Specially Appointed Associate Prof Tsuyoshi Inaba, who is acquainted with housing-related poverty issues. Share houses are a breakwater against poverty for low-income young women or single mothers who need a safe place to live. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

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Young people here have it rough just like the women do. The society is set up for them to live with their parents till they get married, and work up for peanuts compared to others apprentice 1970s style. But it's 2017 and reality is also changing. But the focus is on the old not the young here so nothing will happen.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In other words, she wants the state to spend other people's money to subsidize cheaper housing, money which the state doesn't have. This money will come partially from the pockets of these same young people, who will either see their taxes rise, or other benefits reduced, there is no free ride. The state is already deficit-spending at record levels, and state debt is reaching parity with the level of money held in Japan's private sector banks. Each of these young people is already shouldering millions of yen of public sector debt, and adding more is not going to make it any easier on them.

And the author overlooks the fundamental problem, which is not the lack of cheap housing, but the lack of better paying jobs. And in a shrinking economy with ever fewer consumers, dwindling demand, sales, profits, and salaries, things are going to get worse before they get better.

The state supposedly exists to enforce the law, maintain safety, and facilitate the lives of the people. Instead, the state is ever becoming a larger burden, as it's costs become so large that less and less is left over for the private sector to create new industries and jobs. Japan ranks near the bottom of the list among developed countries for entrepreneurship and business creation, and so long as this remains the case, working-class people are going to suffer, particularly those with less education.

It is the burden of the state, and the high cost this burden imposes on the people which is driving down the population. The cost of tariffs on food, materials, energy, and other goods comes out of the people's pockets. The cost of rules, regulations, fees, tolls, taxes, also comes from the people's pockets. In the end, most of what the people earn ends up in the coffers of the state, and yet the state still manages to spend far more than it collects.

It is not because the state is not spending enough that the population is falling, but because the state is spending too much.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

"she wants the state to spend other people's money to subsidize cheaper housing"

Very little of that public money would be needed if employers paid/raised wages in line with their earnings. The "working poor" phenom is a function of corporate greed.

The govt needs to hike and broaden the corporate tax. Use the revenue for housing for exploited workers.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Share houses are one manifestation of poverty 

Could be, but not necessarily. Could also be a lifestyle choice I.e not wanting to live on your own, live in a bigger house rather than a 15sqm room etc. Many ppl in the western world, especially the anglo world, have been sharing houses for decades. Although it is often a 'partly-financial' decision it is also often a lifestyle whilee especially for those who stay single for a while. I know it's not for me but I know plenty of successful men and women (in the west) well in their 30-50s who still share.

Also dont really get the 'poverty among women' bit. Why should/would sharing mean poverty for women and not for blokes? Surely some J men would opt for shared accommodation before homelessness?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

In my country they are called "roommates." The idea here that people need to live in a small apartment alone is part of the issue with Japan. So many live with their parents and then live alone, then get married and yikes. Never lived with anyone else and have no clue about sharing and compromise. When I ask students why they don't get a roommate instead of living alone, they look shocked at the idea of sharing a place. The stigma of "sharing" an apartment is an issue and no doubt would certainly help a lot of homeless men if they felt it was okay to live with someone else.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

This is a major problem and one that will only get worse as Japan's provinces continue to slowly collapse and young people flood into Tokyo in search of work. There are hundreds of thousands of unoccupied dwellings in the Kanto area that could easily be converted into low-cost dwellings for single parent families and low-income young women.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There is also research that shows that young people who have no fixed address feel pessimistic about marriage.

Gee, ya think? IQ level, genius.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

All this is common sense, don't need some prof to ""come up"" with this doh!

Myself like many on here I bet had room mates in shared houses & apartments when starting their working lives, this is called NORMAL!

And YES like tmaire said it helps you learn to live with others share expenses, fight over the last beer in the fridge among MANY other things. It teaches how to start growing up!

That said I do see more shared accommodations now, they were virtually non-existent when I first got here except for fellow gaijin who were familiar with the concept.

Young people in Japan need to realize you must start somewhere & that is usually at the bottom then WORK your way up, along the way you may find a spouse then shack up, then possibly a home, kids etc etc

The way Japan is DOING IT simply no longer works & hasn't now for close to 30yrs time to oh I don't know listen to this prof with his ""NEW"" idea......

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Also dont really get the 'poverty among women' bit. Why should/would sharing mean poverty for women and not for blokes? Surely some J men would opt for shared accommodation before homelessness?

Missed this. Women "hide" poverty better - by sharing an apartment and the like. 1/3 of non married Japanese women (single, divorced, widowed) live in poverty. Thing is, it really isn't talked about. When people think poverty, they think homeless men. They don't think about the single moms, the elderly women and the like. Hence the mention of it. Anyone who reads my posts on here knows what I will say next about living wages for women, the spouse benefits so I will spare you all...

Reckless, the system is going out, no? We didn't pay key money at our last apartment. The place before, we paid a bit and laughed when we asked about renting it again and he still wanted key money. From my understanding, older apartment owners (read older men) are expecting key money but newer apartments that are just being built just expect a deposit. Not sure how usual that is but it seems to be the thing now in many large cities.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

tmarie: it is very rare for the same 3 women under 35 to live together to for long periods. If these female don,t share any of the personal effects, ( bushes, clothing, shoes ) kiss and hug will manage. So it is much harder for a group of women to live together then Man. S,P,A ( single person accommodation ) should be provide for women before man. Group housing should be for men only. I go on about the doubling the minimum wage but this will never happen in Japan without radical change.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tmarie is right key money, etc been dropping now for 10+yrs now.

As for women sharing accomodations, 2 is ok 3 or more and the fighting starts. Many women say the same.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

2 is ok 3 or more and the fighting starts.

The same can be said for men as well. Of all days to make such a comment.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@tmarie, your comments are spot on. When I was young I shared a house, and then a large townhouse, then a condominium, with other males and females, and each time was a pleasant experience because my roommates and I actually took an interest in each others' lives.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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