Same Business, Monthly 1.83 Million Won → 3.85 Million Won... "We Are 'Datsu-Nihon'"

Poor Working Conditions and Gender Discrimination Fuel '탈일본' Trend
Dollar-Converted Income Ranks 24th Among 38 OECD Countries

An analysis has emerged indicating an increasing trend of Japanese people relocating overseas due to outdated customs and anxiety about the future.

On the 19th, the Japanese online media outlet Kurie Japan translated and reported an article titled "Japanese People Tired of Old Customs Leaving Their Homeland," originally published last month by the French daily Le Monde, written by its Tokyo correspondent.

Last year, GJJ Overseas Employment Desk, a Japanese overseas job information company, reported that inquiries from Japanese people seeking jobs abroad increased by 1.5 times compared to the previous year. It was also reported that inquiries from middle-aged and older individuals have risen, not just from young people. A representative stated, "Previously, most applicants were graduates from prestigious universities under 40 years old, but now there are applicants in their 50s and 60s as well."

Even with a 3% wage increase, real wages '-0.2%'

[Image source=Pixabay]

Le Monde introduced the case of Mizuno Yuki (26), who left Japan early last year through a friend's introduction and settled in Australia. Mizuno works four days a week at a restaurant in Sydney, earning about 400,000 yen (approximately 3.85 million KRW) per month.

Mizuno said, "If I did the same job in Japan, my monthly income would be about 190,000 yen (approximately 1.83 million KRW)," adding, "Life here is also more convenient."

Fujita Hidemi (28) also moved to Sydney and works as a nursing assistant. Her income doubled to 800,000 yen compared to Japan. Fujita introduced, "My uniquely Japanese politeness and diligence are recognized here."

The media pointed out, "The primary reason Japanese people go abroad is economic. Since the bubble economy in the late 1980s, non-regular employment has surged in Japan, and wages have stagnated since the 1990s. Last year, the yen's value sharply dropped against the dollar and euro. Despite being the world's third-largest economy, Japan's status is declining, and the sense of inferiority is intensifying."

Japan's income converted to dollars is lower than that of South Korea, Italy, and France. According to OECD statistics, Japan's average salary in 2021 was $39,711 (approximately 53 million KRW), ranking 24th among 38 member countries. This is about half the level of the United States ($74,738, approximately 99.7 million KRW).

Japanese major companies promised nearly a 3% wage increase in this spring's wage negotiations. Although this is a level not seen in the past 20 years, it is not enough to keep up with inflation. The Nissei Basic Research Institute forecasted that considering Japan's inflation this year, real wages will not rise but instead fall by 0.2%.

Poor working conditions and even worse lives for women and sexual minorities

Movie 'Suzume's Locking Up the Doors' Capture

Le Monde introduced that "Along with income issues, the thirst for working conditions that enable a 'better work-life balance' is also one of the reasons for wanting to migrate overseas."

It continued, "In Japanese companies, there is no guarantee of evening or weekend off after weekday work, nor paid leave. Although there is a '40-hour workweek' limit, many cases require overtime. While there is a right to use paid leave, it is rare for more than half of it to be actually taken."

It also explained, "It is not easy to take a one-year childcare leave. Pregnancy for women means the end of their career," adding, "Some people migrate overseas to escape from such an extremely unequal society."

Izumi Sakamoto, a researcher at the University of Toronto in Canada, said, "In Japan, which ranked 116th in gender equality surveys, the tendency of women and sexual minorities to leave (overseas) is prominent."

Having left Japan about 20 years ago due to disillusionment with the sexist and patriarchal society, he pointed out, "Although female labor is encouraged due to labor shortages, Japanese politicians still want women to stay home and care for children and the elderly."

Opportunities for women, who academically outperform men, remain limited, accelerating overseas departures.

Warning that the risk of 'leaving Japan' may be lower than 'staying in Japan'

At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which informs about the devastation caused by the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945, a visitor was examining an exhibit recreating the scene at the time of the bombing on the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Asahi Shimbun cited statistics from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January, stating, "As of October 1, 2022, the number of overseas permanent residents reached a record high of 557,000," adding, "Although long-term residents such as students and overseas assignees decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of permanent residents increased by about 20,000 compared to the previous year, mainly among those who left seeking better lives and jobs abroad." Compared to 10 years ago, this is an increase of 140,000 people.

Political commentator and former senior official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Koga Shigeaki, wrote a column titled "Japan's Great Exodus! The Year of Exodus" in local media, pointing out, "This year will be the first year when the 'overseas escape' of Japanese youth becomes full-scale."

Koga warned, "Low wages, rampant workplace bullying and sexual harassment, discrimination against non-regular workers and women, concerns about the collapse of the pension system, and young people who think there is no tomorrow for the Japanese economy. Yet, is it wise to stay in Japan and work hard to support the elderly?" He added, "It is clear that the risk of 'staying in Japan' is much greater than the risk of 'leaving Japan.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.