It is clear that every country faces different social problems. Without basic knowledge about a particular country, it is impossible to compare and leverage the concepts behind new projects and policies/laws. Based on this idea, we would like to share this starter pack of basic Japanese facts/knowledge that provides an overview of the social issues facing Japan.
social issues
A) Super-aging society
Data from the United Nations World Population Prospects shows that by 2050, one in six people (16%) in the world will be aged 65 or older, up from one in 10 (10%) in 2022*1. On the other hand, in Japan, 1 in 3.5 people is already over 65 years old (28.4%)*2.
1) Long lifespan
The population of Japan in 2019 was approximately 126 million people, of whom 28.4% were over 65 years old. Average life expectancy was 81 years for men and 87 years for women*.2. In contrast, the “healthy life expectancy” (2016) is 72 years for men and 74 years for women*.3This represents a difference of 9 years for men and 13 years for women.
2) Declining birthrate*Four
In 2021, the birth rate was 1.30, and the number of births was 811,000. The number of births during the first baby boom in the late 1940s (current age of approximately 73 to 75 years old) was approximately 2.7 million, and the number of births during the second baby boom of the early 1970s (current age of approximately 48 to 50 years old) was approximately 2.7 million. exceeded 2 million people. birth. This number is decreasing year by year.
3) Rising medical costs
Japan has a “universal health insurance system” in which all citizens participate in some form of public insurance. Basically, residents under the age of 70 have to pay 30% of their medical expenses at the hospital. In contrast, national health spending in 2022 amounted to approximately 44.2 trillion yen (315 billion euros)*.Fivean average of 350,000 yen (2,500 euros) per person (exchange rate: 1 euro = 140 yen).
B) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
There is no doubt that the concept of “DE&I” has been promoted worldwide in recent years. What kind of “DE&I” is mainly discussed in Japan? This article cannot cover all topics, but will provide some insight.
1) People with disabilities
Approximately 9.4 million people*6 People with disabilities (including people with multiple disabilities) in Japan account for approximately 7.6% of the total population.
- People with physical disabilities: 4.3 million people*6
- People with intellectual disabilities: 1 million people*6
- People with mental disabilities: 3.9 million people*6
- Only about 25.3% of adults with disabilities play sports at least once a week*6
2) Gender equality
In the 2022 Gender Gap Index (GGI), Japan ranks 116th in the world, 37th out of 38 OECD member countries, and 17th out of G20 countries and regions. *7
The percentage of female directors in Japan’s sports administrative bodies is 15.5%, and 9 out of 78 organizations (11.5%) responded that they do not have any female directors. *8
3) Foreign workers
2.9 million people in 2022*9 Foreigners living in Japan (2.3% of Japan’s total population) and 1.8 million people*Ten Registered foreign workers (2.7% of the labor force*)11), and the number is increasing every year.
C) Regional revitalization
To put it positively, “regional revitalization” is the key to Japan’s survival. What challenges are we facing? Do the facts listed below provide any insight?
1) Extremely concentrated in Tokyo
General information about Tokyo:
- Area: 2,200 square kilometers (0.5% of Japan)*12
- Population: 14 million people (11% of Japan’s total population)*12
- Daytime population: 16.4 million people*13
- Tokyo 23 special wards only: 9.6 million people*12
- Population density: 15,411 people per square kilometer
From an economic concentration perspective, more than 2,000 (more than 50%) of Japan’s 3,800 listed companies are headquartered in Tokyo. *14
2) Regional population decline
Looking at the influx of people from rural areas to Tokyo, the main age groups, mainly those in their 18s and 19s and those in their 20s, are moving to Tokyo for higher education or employment. Lack of good employment opportunities, social infrastructure, entertainment, education, and a nurturing environment may also be contributing factors to the continued decline.
Way forward
This article is just the tip of the iceberg of Japan’s social problems. However, as Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world,” and SSF believes that “the power of sport” can contribute to solving these challenges by working with all stakeholders. believe.
reference:
*1 World population projections for 2022: Summary of results (2022, 2 pages)
https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_2022_wpp_key-messages.pdf
*2 SSF Sports White Paper 2020 (Japanese version, 70 pages)
*3 Expert meeting report “Healthy Life Expectancy” Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (2019, 31 pages)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10904750/000495323.pdf
*Four Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “Overview of Vital Statistics” (2022, 4 pages)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/kakurei21/dl/15_all.pdf
*Five Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Trends in medical expenses for 2021 (2020 page 2)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/medias/year/21/dl/iryouhi_data_sankou.pdf
*6 SSF Sports White Paper 2020 (Japanese version, 132 pages)
*7 Gender Gap Index, World Economic Forum
https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2022
*8 SSF Research on Governance of National Governing Bodies 2020
https://www.ssf.or.jp/thinktank/governance/2020_nfr.html
*9 Immigration Services Agency “Foreigners residing in Japan” (2022)
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00028.html
*Ten Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “Foreign Workers in Japan” (2022)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_30367.html
*11 Calculated from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Labor Force Survey (2023, page 1)
https://www.stat.go.jp/data/roudou/sokuhou/nen/ft/pdf/index1.pdf
*12 Tokyo general information for Tokyo
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tosei/tokyoto/profile/gaiyo/kushichoson.html
*13 Tokyo daytime population forecast, Tokyo metropolitan statistics
https://www.toukei.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tyosoku/ty-data.htm
*14 Number of listed companies Japan Exchange Group
https://www.jpx.co.jp/english/listing/co/index.html
Application for information use
Upon request, we will provide raw data (including cross-tabulation results, in Japanese only) from all national sports and life surveys conducted to date. If you are interested, please contact SSF using the link below.
https://www.ssf.or.jp/contact/