Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘I don’t enjoy life’: Japan ranks least content, optimistic among 30 nations surveyed
South China Morning Post ^ | 15 April 2025 | Julian Ryall

Posted on 04/18/2025 5:20:26 PM PDT by anthropocene_x

Only 13 per cent of Japanese people are satisfied with their quality of life, and just 15 per cent expect it to improve, according to a new global survey – the lowest levels among 30 countries polled – reflecting what experts describe as deepening sense of disillusionment amid rising living costs, demographic strain and political inertia.

The survey, conducted by France-based research firm Ipsos, gathered responses from nearly 24,000 people across Europe, Asia and North America, including about 2,000 from Japan. The results revealed that life satisfaction in Japan lagged behind even many developing nations such as Colombia, India, Indonesia and Peru.

Hiromi Murakami, a professor of political science at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, said she had noticed a deepening sense of crisis in Japanese society.

“There are different reasons for different people, of course, but one of the biggest factors I feel is that for so long we have only experienced deflation and now suddenly we have soaring inflation,” she told This Week in Asia.

“I just had a class and a girl who was maybe 19 years old said she was doomed. She said that the only thing she was going to do would be to get a job, work long hours so she could pay into the pension system for when she retires and that there was nothing to look forward to,” Murakami said.

Despite the widespread gloom, Murakami said she found it difficult to comprehend some of the negativity among her fellow citizens.

“Most of these people should be more content with what they already have. They are not living in Ukraine or Haiti, I am sure they have a home to go to, food to eat and that they can find joy if they want to,” she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at scmp.com ...


TOPICS: Japan
KEYWORDS: japan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

1 posted on 04/18/2025 5:20:26 PM PDT by anthropocene_x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

Still the ‘Hong Kong Morning Post’ to me..


2 posted on 04/18/2025 5:25:23 PM PDT by A strike ("My country is fd up. I demand you let us in to fix yours..")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

A lot of societies are focused on work, work, work because the government needs growth, growth, growth. If governments really cared and wanted people to be happy, I bet they could find a way.


3 posted on 04/18/2025 5:26:00 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

Many of the Japanese who have jobs insane hours and are not that productive.


4 posted on 04/18/2025 5:29:16 PM PDT by rbg81 (=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

We live in An
“Upholstered Sewer”
.
Orthodox Christian Hedonist


5 posted on 04/18/2025 5:34:59 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

I’ve seen very similar outlooks from South Koreans. These two nations are the canary in the coal mine in some ways for where Europe is headed next, and then America.


6 posted on 04/18/2025 5:39:07 PM PDT by EnderWiggin1970
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

“””The survey, conducted by France-based research firm Ipsos, gathered responses from nearly 24,000 people across Europe, Asia and North America, including about 2,000 from Japan”””


This is a weird survey. 90% outside of Japan and 10% in Japan.

I am guessing this media source is not one to be trusted.


7 posted on 04/18/2025 5:44:47 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

The Japanese are still trying to recover from 4 years of Rahm Emanual as the US Ambassador (and believe me, he wasn’t there just to attend galas), and on top of that, they’ve had DECADES of USAID trying to ‘dilute’ their culture.

They’ll be fine.


8 posted on 04/18/2025 5:56:39 PM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Presbyterian Reporter
The South China Morning Post (formerly the Hong Kong Morning Post) has been owned by the Alibaba Group since 2016.

It has had an increasingly pro-China stance (soft, to be sure) since then.

And yet even that's not enough for Beijing.

9 posted on 04/18/2025 5:57:20 PM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (There is nothing new under the sun.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

Being unChristian, they have no hope of glory beyond this life. Without a relationship with God, there is an unfillable emptiness.


10 posted on 04/18/2025 6:08:53 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flaming Conservative

I’ve spoken to a few and Buddhism or ‘
‘My Parents’ won’t approve makes it difficult. They are beautiful people for the most part.
Christ gives purpose and That’s the Kicker.


11 posted on 04/18/2025 6:26:48 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

80% of the Japanese have had 7 Covid19 ‘shots’.


12 posted on 04/18/2025 6:30:13 PM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x; poconopundit

Consider the Source.

The CCP hates Japan.

I consider this to be pure propaganda produced by the Communist Party.


13 posted on 04/18/2025 6:32:01 PM PDT by Candor7 (Ask not for whom the Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!<img src="" width=500</img><a href="">tag</a>) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Presbyterian Reporter

Don’t trust the media.


14 posted on 04/18/2025 6:36:54 PM PDT by jean michael
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

Asia needs Jesus. All of Asia.

I know South Korea has some large Christian churches, but the whole continent needs revival.


15 posted on 04/18/2025 6:37:37 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ultra Sonic 007

Thanks for the info about the source.

Now regarding the survey-—”””Only 13 per cent of Japanese people are satisfied with their quality of life, and just 15 per cent expect it to improve, according to a new global survey”””


I just returned from a 10 day trip to Japan and have been in Japan on extensive trips before.

If the those in the survey are not satisfied with their quality of life, then they must not like huge cities where there is no garbage/trash on the streets, no graffiti on the walls, and Japanese people who are very friendly.

So my bottom line on this survey is that it is media Fake News as Trump would say.


16 posted on 04/18/2025 6:38:20 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x

Millions of empty houses in the countryside.

The young people have mostly moved to the cities.

They have a low crime rate but look at videos of their homes.

Bars on the lower windows.

Everyone dresses in black and white.


17 posted on 04/18/2025 6:51:56 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

Re: window bars :

https://www.tokyodev.com/articles/window-bars-in-japan


18 posted on 04/18/2025 7:05:22 PM PDT by sushiman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Japan needs a Trump: bring back manufacturing jobs, reduce regulations for small businesses, stop mass immigration, boost defense, decouple with the CCP, and make deals to import material from the USA and Russia.


19 posted on 04/18/2025 7:23:11 PM PDT by Choppo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: anthropocene_x
Coming from Chinese media (South China Morning Post), the story isn't surprising.
China and Japan mutually hate each other.
20 posted on 04/18/2025 8:01:09 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson