The Misconception of Dreamless Youth: They Have Their Own Pace [Slate]

A Film Depicting the Reality of Japanese Youth: "Sleeping Fool"

Movie Still Cut from "Sleeping Fool"

Many members of the older generation criticize the younger generation’s lethargy, using their own youth as a benchmark. However, this phenomenon actually stems from economic insecurity and structural constraints in society, which make it impossible for young people to guarantee their future. As a result, they naturally focus on the "here and now," living each day as it comes.

A similar trend first appeared among young people in Japan. The gap in wages and living standards between regular employees, non-regular workers, and part-time workers was not immediately apparent in early adulthood, which intensified the phenomenon. As they age and take on long-term responsibilities such as marriage, raising children, and supporting their parents, these differences become clear. Factors such as social insurance coverage, the size of savings and assets, and the stability of income determine the range of choices available and the quality of life.

The reality experienced by Japanese youth amid these structural contradictions is delicately portrayed through the daily lives of Yumi (Shiori Kubo) and Ruka (Yuuna Taira) in the movie "Sleeping Fool." Interestingly, this film is an adaptation of a manga series of the same name that was serialized between 2006 and 2008, and its release this year is seen as a meaningful choice that not only visualizes the story but also simultaneously depicts both the changes and the continuity experienced by the young generation during Japan’s "Lost 30 Years."

Yumi, a younger student, and Ruka, her senior, live together in a university women’s dormitory, each moving through their days at their own pace. Ruka pursues her musical dreams as a member of the indie band "Peat Moss," while Yumi spends her time working part-time jobs without any particular goal. Director Yugo Sakamoto focuses on how their repeated daily routines allow them to gradually influence and blend into each other’s lives. By highlighting the meaning of their growing relationship and sense of self, the film conveys the message that even a day without a clear goal can have value. It serves as a comfort to Japanese youth who struggle to plan for the future amid low growth and inequality.

Movie Still Cut from "Sleeping Fool"

Since the economic downturn that began in 1990, Japanese youth have never experienced a boom. Over the past 30 years, wage growth has been only 4.4 percent. In some cases, part-time wages have even surpassed those of regular employees. Low wages and limited opportunities for upward mobility have forced young people to make practical choices for survival. Some maintain a minimal standard of living and find satisfaction in small pleasures, while others look abroad in search of escape.

The so-called "Satori Generation" emerged during this period, seemingly having renounced material desires and attained enlightenment. In reality, it is not that they lack ambition or hope; rather, their choices are shaped by social structures and economic circumstances. It is not that they have "no dreams," but that they "reject dreams" for realistic reasons. Their seemingly passive attitude and avoidance of reckless challenges can largely be interpreted as rational responses to low wages, unstable employment, and the growing burden of supporting an aging population. Instead of questioning the pace or choices of young people, the priority should be to create an environment and institutional foundation that enable them to pursue their own goals.

The slow pace of Yumi and Ruka’s days visualizes this context. A day without a goal is not a worthless day, and even without clinging to grand narratives, it is possible to create meaningful moments through small choices and relationships. The experience of understanding and supporting each other in their repetitive daily lives provides young people with stability and happiness, and becomes an opportunity to discover the meaning of life. The slow rhythm of youth captured by Director Sakamoto begins precisely from this sense of empathy.

Movie Still Cut from "Sleeping Fool"

The story goes beyond simply asserting that economic success or social achievement is not the only value in life. It raises the need for a society where young people’s right to make their own choices and take responsibility for their lives is respected. While solutions to structural problems remain elusive, as shown by the slow days of Yumi and Ruka, young people are still finding ways to create value in their lives, even within constrained environments. If these small choices in daily life accumulate, they could eventually lay the foundation for greater change. And the starting point for this will not be the hasty judgments of the older generation, but rather an attitude of watching and supporting the younger generation as they find their own answers.

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