This article explains the lives of people known as the “Ice Age Generation” in Japan and why many of them don’t participate in elections.
Who are the “Ice Age Generation”?
- This term refers to people who entered the workforce in Japan from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.
- It was a period when finding stable jobs was extremely difficult, and many couldn’t secure permanent employment.
Main Character: Kenji Sato (alias, 45 years old)
- Even though he works seven days a week, his monthly income is only about 200,000 yen (around $1,300).
- He mainly does day labor and short-term jobs, without a stable career.
- In the past, he worked extremely long hours, from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., with lots of overtime.
- He quit that job about ten years ago because it was too exhausting and was affecting his health.
- Since then, he hasn’t had steady employment, and there were periods when he didn’t pay into social insurance or pension.
- He says he doesn’t think much about his future.
Why doesn’t he vote?
- He says, “If I have time to go vote, I’d rather take another shift at work.”
- Voting takes time, and he feels it’s more important to work to make ends meet.
- He doesn’t have time to look up political information and hasn’t watched TV or read newspapers recently.
- He hasn’t voted in about 20 years.
It’s not that he doesn’t care about politics
- In the past, he was interested in topics like the consumption tax and postal reforms.
- But now, he’s so focused on daily survival that it’s hard to feel that elections or politics will directly improve his life.
Summary
- Many in the Ice Age Generation struggle financially, working constantly but still barely getting by, leaving no room to participate in elections.
- When life is tough, immediate survival becomes more important than politics or voting.
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