Japan And AC: Updated August 24, 2024.

 

80% of single parents in Japan intend to cut back on A/C use to save money: survey

Article Source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240805/p2a/00m/0na/016000c

Ideas:

Its very sad that low income or single families have to be stressed out so much in Japan. Japan used to be a somewhat richer country, but maybe now not so much.

Its understandable about wanting to have shorter or no summer vacations, as the students can spend time at the school, and then mothers or single fathers don't have to run the AC that much.

Perhaps the Japanese government, if they don't do it already, should offer subsidies or more subsidies to single families as a way to reduce their stress related to high AC costs.

Perhaps, unfortunately, the income gap between those who are well off and those not so much as increased a lot in Japan and not its very noticeable, while before maybe it wasn't have noticeable.

Again, the Japanese government needs to do something or its going to get even worse, as maybe more more low income families are being hit hard by the continued inflation situation.

Rice should be a basic staple, that the Japanese government should provide to low income families in times of stress such as now with high prices, high temperatures, and continued inflation, or at least give subsidies to low income families to pay for the food basics.

What has happened to Japan, as Japan used to be a country that seemed to take care of its citizens, but maybe those days are long gone, as Japan has moved more toward a western style market system, where not all citizens are equal and or are well off.

In the free answer section of the questionnaire, respondents wrote about their efforts to curb food expenses, such as "My child eats two meals a day, and I eat one," "We consume twice as much rice during the summer holidays, but I'm not eating rice as its expensive," "I make rice porridge to increase the volume," and, "I cut noodles short to make them look more plentiful."

Rice, off all things in Japan, should be a given, related to food, and it should not be expensive, as it should be basic food staple, but unfortunately, even in Japan, there might be some greedy wholesalers or others to take advantage of the market system.

Something has to change in Japan, as Japan seems to headed to a country of haves and have nots and the have nots are becoming more and more, while the haves control the country and don't seem to care about the have nots.

Of course it might be in every country, unfortunately and not just in Japan, and even the US has its share of negatives related to low-income or single family situations.

This is a very sad situation, as single family members can't do the basics in life. Does the Japanese Diet or whomever hear about these people or do they only think about the rich people in Japan.

At the same time, its not unusual for all families to cut back some related to inflation expenses, but the low income or single income families it might be even more of a problem.

The inflation situation has been going on since the pandemic which means low income and or single parent families in Japan, have had a lot of stress since that time.,

Yes, Japanese families got a 40,000 yen stipend recently, but that doesn't go very far when the bills keep piling up.

Unfortunately, school and club activities, globally, have become too expensive leaving many on the side and not able to participate. Many school and club activities are becoming domain of the upper middle class and the lower classes, globally, are being left out or left behind.

Such as soccer clubs/teams/ baseball clubs/teams, basketball clubs/teams etc., where the upper middle class can afford all the equipment, travel expenses, and fees, while the lower class is unable to do these things.

Then there is the idea of after school academies for academics to help students keep up or study for national exams. In South Korea its out of control and its become a major industry and parents have no choice but to send their children to Hagwons or academies to make sure their children don't fall behind.

Its a very sad situation for these families and beside the nonprofit organizations doing the survey here, who is really helping them to get out of this poverty situation.

Living on 150,000 and month is terrible as how can a family live on roughly $1,500 dollars as it doesn't go that far.

The Japanese government needs to pay special attention to this group or Japan is about to become a poverty nation and no longer an advanced society.

Have a nice day and be safe!