Japan Is What Late-Stage Capitalist Decline Looks Like
8 days ago
- #economic stagnation
- #late-stage capitalism
- #social issues
- Japan's idol industry enforces extreme rules, including public humiliation for normal adult behaviors, reflecting broader societal issues.
- Japan's economic rise post-WWII led to rapid growth but also speculative bubbles, culminating in the 1991 crash and the 'Lost Decades' of stagnation.
- The U.S. experienced a similar economic crisis in 2008, with recovery measures benefiting the wealthy and exacerbating inequality.
- Both Japan and the U.S. see a rise in precarious, low-wage jobs with poor conditions, termed 'Black Kigyo' in Japan.
- Overwork is normalized in both countries, leading to health issues like 'Karoshi' (death by overwork) in Japan and burnout in the U.S.
- Social atomization is prevalent, with high rates of single-person households and loneliness epidemics in both Japan and the U.S.
- Declining birth rates in both countries are linked to economic precarity, making marriage and children financially prohibitive.
- Convenience culture replaces home life, with outsourced food solutions becoming the norm due to lack of time and resources.
- Sexual activity has declined in Japan and the U.S., with structural barriers like irregular work hours and high living costs hindering relationships.
- Parasocial relationships, like those with idols or influencers, fill the gap left by declining real-life intimacy in both societies.
- Japan's societal trends may predict the U.S.'s future under late-stage capitalism, highlighting systemic issues that make basic human milestones unattainable.