new residents. 9 The other thirty-nine prefectures, majority rural areas, experienced net population losses. 10 Currently, an overwhelming 92 percent of Japan’s population— approximately 117 million people—reside in urban areas. 11 As people leave, the rural communities left behind face a demographic collapse; aging populations and fewer workers threaten local economies and public services. Regional revitalization programs are working to protect ecosystems in regions affected by depopulation, which covers roughly 60 percent of the country’s land area. 12 Although some programs have shown optimistic results, the overall impact remains insufficient to fully counteract rural depopulation trends. 13 Community Security Gender Parity and Discrimination While Japan’s business commitment to ethical capitalism was solidified in the Meiji period, so was the rigid role of women by Confucian ideals. 14 The role of ryōsai kenbo— the “good wife, wise mother” has persisted in Japanese culture. Traditionally, a woman’s primary duty was to support her household through child-rearing and homemaking. 15 Income Inequality Despite efforts to improve gender equality, Japan has one of the world’s lowest rankings for gender equity, ranking 118th out of 146 according to the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index. 16 Women make 25 to 32 percent less than what a man makes for the same job. 17 Over half of female employees (53.2 percent) are in part-time or non-regular positions, compared to 22.6 percent of men. 18 These roles offer little job security, limited benefits, and lower wages, perpetuating a cycle of economic inequality. Cross-Generational Poverty: Elderly and Single, Women-Led Households Patriarchal structures limit women’s earning potential and leave them vulnerable in later life. The pension system, built around the post-war assumption that men would be the breadwinners, disadvantages single, divorced, and widowed women. Approximately 44.1 percent of elderly, single Japanese women live in poverty, in contrast to the 30 percent of men in the same situation. 19 This pattern is expected to continue as Japan’s elderly population expands.
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Ten Years in the Making
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