Japanese Youth Embracing Diverse Values and Lifestyles
ANDO Yuka / Former Political Secretary to the Foreign Minister of Japan
June 14, 2016
In June last year, Japan revised its Public Offices Election Act to lower the voting age from twenty to eighteen. The new provision will be applied from the Upper House election this summer. In a society where the falling birthrate and greying population place a growing burden on the younger generation while diminishing their relative presence, it is hoped that the lowering of the voting age will give Japanese youth a voice in national politics.
Yet, there were conflicting views surrounding the revision. Given that the social environment for exercising such rights was not yet in place, considerable number of young Japanese themselves objected persistently that they would be clueless as to who they should vote for if voting rights were suddenly handed down to them. Debates on current issues, and political discussion in particular, have been avoided in classrooms of junior high schools and high schools. It is no wonder that Japanese teenagers are only vaguely aware of “politics” and “society” in their daily lives.
And giving them voting rights will not instantly change their mindset. Just how active have young people over twenty been in participating in politics until now? According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 32.58 percent of voters in their twenties turned up for the last General election held in December 2014. The figure was the lowest among all age groups, as well as being the lowest on record for the group. For several decades now, young voter turnout for national elections has basically followed a downward trajectory.
Still, I believe that lamenting over the state of today’s youth based on these facts would be a case of “not seeing the forest for the trees.” True, it has been some time since it was noted that Japanese youth were becoming more “introverted.” Recently, young men in particular have been described as being “herbivorous,” attracting much attention by raising concern that they seemed weaker than the “carnivorous” young men who were predominant during the period following the end of World War II through the bubble economy years. But is this ---that young men have become “grass-eating”---really the case? According to the “Family Income and Expenditure Survey” report published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, while food expenditures per head remained little changed nationwide, meat consumption maintained a steady uptrend, led by the younger generation.
Numerical data on the literal habit of “meat-eating” aside, there is indeed ample data from the workplace indicating that a growing number of young people in Japan tended to “lack the desire to succeed,” appear “meek,” “place family before company” and “prefer to stay in the same job location rather than being transferred.” But is it fair to jump to the conclusion that these tendencies signify a decline in social vitality? I see these signs as the result of diversifying values among Japanese youth and evidence that they have reached a point where they are willing to express their own values. Young people today demonstrate a stronger preference for seeking their own “way” over the definition and paths of “success” and “happiness” prepared for them by society and adults.
In reality, ever since the bursting of the bubble economy, young Japanese have lived through an era of hardship brought about by two decades of economic stagnation that was marked by severe job shortages, an increase in irregular forms of employment and a widening gap between the rich and poor, as well as the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. They are being forced to seek out their own lifestyles. While appearing “meek” at first glance, the younger generation has seized on the rise of the Internet, constructing a network of unprecedented scope and engaging in active exchange through e-mail and social media.
These young men and women profess a keen interest in serving society and attach greater meaning to participating in volunteer activities such as those related to the earthquake than working obsessively for a promotion. And more often than not, young men who place family before work are supportive of women’s careers and are eager to share the housework. As for young people who seek continued employment in the same area instead of being transferred, in most cases their reasons involve caring for family members and children’s education. However, there are those who offer a more positive reason, of wanting to play an active role in their local community.
In the “International Survey of Youth Attitude” conducted by the Cabinet Office in 2013, 54.5 percent of Japanese respondents said “yes” to the question: “Would you like to do something that can contribute to your country?” coming in first compared with six other countries in the survey—Sweden, Germany, France, Korea, U.S.A. and U.K. On the other hand, Japan scored lowest among these countries with respect to the questions: ”Do you have bright hopes for your future?” and “Do you think that your country has a bright future?”
Tapping into the inner passion of young Japanese men and women and ensuring that they are fully expressed requires an effort to promote their aspirations and sense of fulfillment on the part of society as well as young people themselves. The upcoming Upper House election is expected to be the first step in that direction.
(The writer is former Political Secretary to the Foreign Minister of Japan.)
Yet, there were conflicting views surrounding the revision. Given that the social environment for exercising such rights was not yet in place, considerable number of young Japanese themselves objected persistently that they would be clueless as to who they should vote for if voting rights were suddenly handed down to them. Debates on current issues, and political discussion in particular, have been avoided in classrooms of junior high schools and high schools. It is no wonder that Japanese teenagers are only vaguely aware of “politics” and “society” in their daily lives.
And giving them voting rights will not instantly change their mindset. Just how active have young people over twenty been in participating in politics until now? According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 32.58 percent of voters in their twenties turned up for the last General election held in December 2014. The figure was the lowest among all age groups, as well as being the lowest on record for the group. For several decades now, young voter turnout for national elections has basically followed a downward trajectory.
Still, I believe that lamenting over the state of today’s youth based on these facts would be a case of “not seeing the forest for the trees.” True, it has been some time since it was noted that Japanese youth were becoming more “introverted.” Recently, young men in particular have been described as being “herbivorous,” attracting much attention by raising concern that they seemed weaker than the “carnivorous” young men who were predominant during the period following the end of World War II through the bubble economy years. But is this ---that young men have become “grass-eating”---really the case? According to the “Family Income and Expenditure Survey” report published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, while food expenditures per head remained little changed nationwide, meat consumption maintained a steady uptrend, led by the younger generation.
Numerical data on the literal habit of “meat-eating” aside, there is indeed ample data from the workplace indicating that a growing number of young people in Japan tended to “lack the desire to succeed,” appear “meek,” “place family before company” and “prefer to stay in the same job location rather than being transferred.” But is it fair to jump to the conclusion that these tendencies signify a decline in social vitality? I see these signs as the result of diversifying values among Japanese youth and evidence that they have reached a point where they are willing to express their own values. Young people today demonstrate a stronger preference for seeking their own “way” over the definition and paths of “success” and “happiness” prepared for them by society and adults.
In reality, ever since the bursting of the bubble economy, young Japanese have lived through an era of hardship brought about by two decades of economic stagnation that was marked by severe job shortages, an increase in irregular forms of employment and a widening gap between the rich and poor, as well as the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. They are being forced to seek out their own lifestyles. While appearing “meek” at first glance, the younger generation has seized on the rise of the Internet, constructing a network of unprecedented scope and engaging in active exchange through e-mail and social media.
These young men and women profess a keen interest in serving society and attach greater meaning to participating in volunteer activities such as those related to the earthquake than working obsessively for a promotion. And more often than not, young men who place family before work are supportive of women’s careers and are eager to share the housework. As for young people who seek continued employment in the same area instead of being transferred, in most cases their reasons involve caring for family members and children’s education. However, there are those who offer a more positive reason, of wanting to play an active role in their local community.
In the “International Survey of Youth Attitude” conducted by the Cabinet Office in 2013, 54.5 percent of Japanese respondents said “yes” to the question: “Would you like to do something that can contribute to your country?” coming in first compared with six other countries in the survey—Sweden, Germany, France, Korea, U.S.A. and U.K. On the other hand, Japan scored lowest among these countries with respect to the questions: ”Do you have bright hopes for your future?” and “Do you think that your country has a bright future?”
Tapping into the inner passion of young Japanese men and women and ensuring that they are fully expressed requires an effort to promote their aspirations and sense of fulfillment on the part of society as well as young people themselves. The upcoming Upper House election is expected to be the first step in that direction.
(The writer is former Political Secretary to the Foreign Minister of Japan.)
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
現代日本の若者とは～多様化する価値観とライフスタイル
安藤 優香 / 元外務大臣秘書官
2016年 6月 14日
昨年６月、公職選挙法が改正されて選挙権が現在の２０歳から１８歳に引き下げられた。間近に控える今夏の参議院選挙から適用になる。少子高齢化が進み、若者の負担が大きくなる一方、相対的に若者の存在感が低下している日本社会で、選挙権の引き下げは若者の声を国政に届ける手段となることが期待される。もっとも議論はあった。選挙権を急に与えられても誰に投票していいのか分からない、権利を行使するための社会環境がまだ整っていない、等の反対意見は若者の間にも根強かった。日本の教育現場では、中学校や高校においても時事問題についての討論、とくに政治問題の議論を避けてきたので、彼ら彼女らの生活の中で、「政治」や「社会」についての意識は希薄となりがちなのは当然であろう。
また、選挙権を与えられたからと言って、ただちに若者の意識が変化するわけでもない。これまで２０歳を迎えた若者のどれほどが、政治参画に積極的であったろう。総務省によると、前回２０１４年１２月に行われた衆議院選挙の２０代の投票率は３２．５８％と世代別で最も低い上に、過去最低でもあった。この数十年間、若者の国政選挙への投票率は基本的に低下の一途を辿っている。
このような事実をもって、最近の若者の状況を憂うのは、「木を見て森を見ず」の判断と考える。確かに、最近の若者の「内向き」傾向が指摘されて久しい。とくに近年、若い男子が「草食系」と称され、戦後からバブル期までの「肉食系」の男子に比べて、弱々しくなってきているとの懸念が示され注目された。しかし、本当にそうか。総務省の「家計調査報告」によると、全国一人あたりの食料品支出がほぼ横ばいである中、食肉の摂取量は若者を筆頭に堅調な右肩上がりである。
文字通りの「肉食」度の数値データはともかく、「出世欲がない」「大人しい」、「会社より家族を優先」、「転勤よりも雇用地に留まることを希望」する若者が増えているといった職場の傾向データ等が多々あることも事実である。しかし、これら傾向を一概に社会の活力の低下と結論付けるのは妥当だろうか。これらは若者の価値観が多様化した結果であると共に、若者が自らの価値観を表明する意思を持つに至ったことの証左と考える。今の若者は、社会や大人たちがお仕着せる「成功」や「幸せ」のカタチやレールよりも、自分の「道」を選ぶ傾向が強くなっている。
実際、バブル崩壊後、２０年余りも続いた不況、その中での就職難と非正規雇用の拡大、広がり続ける貧富の格差、そして３．１１の東日本大震災の発生という苦難の時代の若者たちは、それぞれの人生を自ら切り拓いていくことを余儀なくされている。インターネットの発達を捉え、一見大人しそうな若者たちは、メールやソーシャル・メディア等を通じて、これまでにない広範囲なネットワークを構築し、活発な交流を行っている。彼ら彼女らは、社会貢献に関心を寄せ、出世に身をやつすよりも、震災関連のボランティア活動等に意義を感じると言う。仕事より家族を優先する若者は、往々にして女性が社会で活躍することを支持し、妻との家事分担にも意欲的だ。また、転勤より雇用地での勤務継続を希望する若者には、家族の介護や教育の問題等を考慮するケースが多いが、地域での活躍を志向するという積極的な理由による者もいる。
２０１３年度の内閣府「我が国と諸外国の若者の意識に関する調査」で、「自国のために役立つと思うようなことがしたいか」との設問に５４．５％の日本の若者が「賛成」と答え、他の６カ国（スウェーデン、ドイツ、フランス、韓国、アメリカ、イギリス）の中でトップである。他方、「自分の将来に明るい希望を持っているか」、そして「自国の将来は明るいと思うか」との問いには、いずれも日本は上記調査対象国の中で最も低い順番となっている。
日本の若者の内に秘めたる情熱を、十分に発揮することが出来るよう、彼ら彼女らの思いややりがいを引き出す取組が、社会そして若者側の双方に求められる。来る参議院選挙がその一歩でありたい。
(筆者は元外務大臣秘書官）
また、選挙権を与えられたからと言って、ただちに若者の意識が変化するわけでもない。これまで２０歳を迎えた若者のどれほどが、政治参画に積極的であったろう。総務省によると、前回２０１４年１２月に行われた衆議院選挙の２０代の投票率は３２．５８％と世代別で最も低い上に、過去最低でもあった。この数十年間、若者の国政選挙への投票率は基本的に低下の一途を辿っている。
このような事実をもって、最近の若者の状況を憂うのは、「木を見て森を見ず」の判断と考える。確かに、最近の若者の「内向き」傾向が指摘されて久しい。とくに近年、若い男子が「草食系」と称され、戦後からバブル期までの「肉食系」の男子に比べて、弱々しくなってきているとの懸念が示され注目された。しかし、本当にそうか。総務省の「家計調査報告」によると、全国一人あたりの食料品支出がほぼ横ばいである中、食肉の摂取量は若者を筆頭に堅調な右肩上がりである。
文字通りの「肉食」度の数値データはともかく、「出世欲がない」「大人しい」、「会社より家族を優先」、「転勤よりも雇用地に留まることを希望」する若者が増えているといった職場の傾向データ等が多々あることも事実である。しかし、これら傾向を一概に社会の活力の低下と結論付けるのは妥当だろうか。これらは若者の価値観が多様化した結果であると共に、若者が自らの価値観を表明する意思を持つに至ったことの証左と考える。今の若者は、社会や大人たちがお仕着せる「成功」や「幸せ」のカタチやレールよりも、自分の「道」を選ぶ傾向が強くなっている。
実際、バブル崩壊後、２０年余りも続いた不況、その中での就職難と非正規雇用の拡大、広がり続ける貧富の格差、そして３．１１の東日本大震災の発生という苦難の時代の若者たちは、それぞれの人生を自ら切り拓いていくことを余儀なくされている。インターネットの発達を捉え、一見大人しそうな若者たちは、メールやソーシャル・メディア等を通じて、これまでにない広範囲なネットワークを構築し、活発な交流を行っている。彼ら彼女らは、社会貢献に関心を寄せ、出世に身をやつすよりも、震災関連のボランティア活動等に意義を感じると言う。仕事より家族を優先する若者は、往々にして女性が社会で活躍することを支持し、妻との家事分担にも意欲的だ。また、転勤より雇用地での勤務継続を希望する若者には、家族の介護や教育の問題等を考慮するケースが多いが、地域での活躍を志向するという積極的な理由による者もいる。
２０１３年度の内閣府「我が国と諸外国の若者の意識に関する調査」で、「自国のために役立つと思うようなことがしたいか」との設問に５４．５％の日本の若者が「賛成」と答え、他の６カ国（スウェーデン、ドイツ、フランス、韓国、アメリカ、イギリス）の中でトップである。他方、「自分の将来に明るい希望を持っているか」、そして「自国の将来は明るいと思うか」との問いには、いずれも日本は上記調査対象国の中で最も低い順番となっている。
日本の若者の内に秘めたる情熱を、十分に発揮することが出来るよう、彼ら彼女らの思いややりがいを引き出す取組が、社会そして若者側の双方に求められる。来る参議院選挙がその一歩でありたい。
(筆者は元外務大臣秘書官）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟