Do you know what your neighbors are really like?

Are you familiar with the survey on poverty in the 35 member countries of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)?The survey revealed that Japan ranks 29th (16.1%) and the United States 34th (17.5%) in terms of the proportion of people living in poverty, figures that significantly exceed the average of 11.5%. On the other hand, it is well known that both Japan and the United States rank among the highest in the world in terms of the proportion of wealthy individuals, which underscores the significant income disparity in both countries.

When I lived in France, I often felt that this was one of the advantages of the French social system. Specifically, if a patient has a low income, they are not charged for medical treatment. Each case is reviewed individually, and coverage may be granted even for treatments with high costs. While laws and regulations are, of course, essential for maintaining social order, isn’t it also necessary to have a flexible system capable of adapting to special circumstances in order to ensure that everyone, without exception, has access to medical care and other essential services? In Japan as well, it seems inevitable that the number of people in poverty who cannot afford medical expenses will increase in the future. Both the private and public sectors should consider how to address this—whether to maintain rules that apply to everyone or to make the system more adaptable.

France is also known for ensuring that everyone has access to higher education as a human right, with tuition at public universities costing less than 300 euros per year. In contrast, education costs in Japan range from 84,000 to 330,000 euros per person from kindergarten through university graduation, making raising children significantly more expensive compared to France.

In the late 1980s, 90% of Japanese people considered themselves middle class. To return to that situation, we must narrow the existing wealth gap. We must not forget that raising average wages, improving social welfare systems, and providing more affordable education will lead to an increase in the birth rate and create better conditions for raising children, who are the future of society.

As part of Japan’s efforts, the “Kodomo-Shokudo” (children’s cafeteria) project began in 2012, providing free or low-cost meals to children and the elderly living in poverty or eating alone. Given that one in six children in Japan lives in poverty, and 50% of those children live in single-parent households, this can be considered a necessary first step. While some children’s cafeterias offer educational programs and new facilities are opened regularly, the biggest problem is that the people who need them most are afraid of being perceived as poor and therefore hesitate to enter.

The Thai government’s project to provide free bus passes to people living in poverty may serve as a useful example. While Japan already has systems in place to distribute free or low-cost bus passes to the elderly, might it not be appropriate to expand this program to include children and young people as well? By providing opportunities for mobility, we can not only facilitate access to workplaces but also increase educational opportunities. Public transportation plays a vital role in creating an environment where everyone can participate in social activities.

Poverty exists everywhere in the world. Poverty is not something to be ashamed of, and no one should face discrimination simply because of limited financial circumstances. In Japan, poverty is still considered a taboo subject, but the time has come to change that. After all, it is already a reality for many people.

Sources: OECD, The Japan Times, Japan for Sustainability