The number of families relying on Japan's meager welfare benefits surged during the pandemic, and poverty has increased, especially in families headed by single mothers. What was labeled the 'lost generation' during Japan's long years of stagnation has become an 'underclass' accounting for about four in 10 Japanese.

Pandemic shows real poverty in Japan

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/28/national/social-issues/japan-pandemic-poverty/

Japan's corporations don't want to raise incomes. They're sitting on record-high cash piles, have spent record amounts on share buybacks and are vowing to continue raising dividends to shareholders. More $$$ is going to the rich and less to the working class.

The only solution is higher corporate taxes. Plain and simple.

The number of families relying on Japan's meager welfare benefits surged during the pandemic

But the government felt that assistance to workers was not necessary, and instead poured money into a pandemic Olympics, GoTo subsidies promoting pandemic travel with money only for hotel owners and travel companies, while laying off staff and assistance to business owners, many of whom also cut staff.

So 40% of the Japanese live in poverty?

Find the article for people interested :

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-japan-economy-government-spending-ff96d957242ed0dd842034076e4f4a6e

I guess, I will not hold my breath.

And for those unaware, Japan REDUCED the daily payment amounts for those receiving the already meager unemployment benefits.

I would like to see real stats on the populous and incomes.

Yeah, but they can buy a bento for 250 at genki, says one of my indifferent coworkers. Face it, most people here simply don’t have the mindset to even imagine never mind demand a more humane economic system. Until it happens to them of course….the working poor.

That’s an overestimate, as a lot of people work in jobs that do not report income or pay taxes. And quiet a lot of women are making 2-3M a month in night jobs and supporting their hosts.

Who was in power when this problem occured? Who had more than 70+ years to avoid this and fix this after? The LDP 自民党(親父民党).

Doing the same thing over and over again and thinking your going to get a different result this time, is insanity and exactly why it will continue a downward spiral.

Capitalism has run its course. Perfectly according to Marx's basic analysis, capitalism no longer works. Even afte the coronavirus is a nothing but a memory, the socioeconomic situation will only continue to get worse for as long as capitalism exists.

The time's obviously ripe for Universal Basic Income. Go on, Japan, surprise us.

Give people travel discount on metro trains, or free vouchers,if they are poor, they probably do not have adequate way to get too and from work, even a poor person in the US can find gas money ,to get around in the US, gouging the poor on transit fares, is not helping

if they are poor, they probably do not have adequate way to get too and from work

The Japanese tax system subsidises public transport by viewing staff commuting costs as legitimate business expenses. If your employer isn't paying this for you, there's something seriously wrong.

The Japanese tax system subsidises public transport by viewing staff commuting costs as legitimate business expenses. If your employer isn't paying this for you, there's something seriously wrong.

If you're a seishain you get your transport paid and the employer claims on his taxes. A growing number of young people especially are being hired as 'temporary' workers or as 'dispatch' (haken) workers who not only have to pay their own commuting costs, they often aren't eligible for company pension schemes, health insurance, bonuses and the like. For the company, they're cheaper to hire and easier to fire than seishain, though in many cases they do the same work.

You're right, there is something seriously wrong with this.

Thanks, Cleo.

Commuting expenses can still be claimed for on personal annual tax returns.

I feel the solution is simple, give more rights to divorced ladies. Force the husbands to pay money to the wife (by law like America) until their kids come of age. If they don't, send them to jail. Split assets and provide more protection for abused ladies. Furthermore, stop this annoying Juku system. Kids should learn almost everything at school. I spend a fortune each month just so my kids can keep pace with their classmates.

What was labeled the 'lost generation' during Japan's long years of stagnation has become an 'underclass' accounting for about four in 10 Japanese.

Its their fault. They are the ones voting in the same people in over and over again. They have the power of the ballet- something we foreigners don't have and they squander it. Make your bed and sleep in it.