Sustainable Development Goals SDGs Goal 1: No Poverty

What is SDGs Goal 1?

SDGs Goal 1 is “No Poverty,” with its mission statement being “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030.

This goal has seven targets and 13 indicators measuring the world’s success in this aspect. For example, the targets include:

eradicating poverty;
implementing necessary social protection systems;
building resilience to economic, social and environmental disasters (the last being highly relevant to Japan, thinking back on the Fukushima Nuclear meltdown and Kumamoto Floods).

Poverty hits different demographics, including children and women. It also means more than a lack of money. SDGs Goal 1 is also interested in putting in place systems, including healthcare and education. This is one of the reasons why “No Poverty” is set as the first goal: the poverty cycle affects the person in more aspects than one.

Furthermore, COVID-19 has caused the first rise in extreme poverty in one generation, with the U.N. estimating about 120 million people pushed back into extreme poverty. This comes after the slowdown in decreasing poverty since 2015, which is a setback that the world is determined to make a comeback.

Poverty in Japan

It comes in a number of forms, which has been exacerbated by COVID, too. Many organizations, including NPOs, have also been hard at work to alleviate the difficulties these different communities face.

Learn more about Poverty in Japan here.

SDGs Goal 1 in Japan

Here are some recommended readings from Zenbird about how Japan tackles the problems and implements solutions to achieve SDGs Goal 1, “No Poverty.”

Young Japanese women face worsening poverty during the Coronavirus pandemic

Japan’s gender inequality is no secret. World Economic Forum ranks Japan 120th on the Gender Gap Report 2021, ranking it the worst-performing in G7. While the Japanese government takes its time to take action (if any), COVID has made lives harder for the females living under and near the poverty line. Find what consequences the pandemic had for young Japanese women in Japan.

Japanese young women face worsening poverty during Coronavirus pandemic

Gender roles threaten Japanese women with poverty

In addition, conservative thinking about gender roles is still prevalent in certain parts of Japan. For example, in Kyushu, we have the outdated “Kyushu Danji,” of how a male should be aggressive and females obedient. Such thinking has tangible, unfair outcomes for women, for example, wage gaps and professional opportunities. We explore how these gender roles threaten Japanese women with poverty, too.

Gender roles threaten Japanese women with poverty

Fighting child poverty to eliminate education inequality in Japan

Child poverty is a worrisome topic among the Japanese. One out of seven children in Japan lives in poverty. For Okinawa, the poverty rate increases to one out of three children. One of the adverse effects of child poverty is education inequality, primarily through the hidden expenses of education in Japan. Luckily, there are veteran organizations that can pinpoint tangible actions to tackle these problems.

Fighting child poverty to eliminate education inequality in Japan

Why these 3 prefectures have the highest poverty rates in Japan

We must often remind ourselves that when we say “Japan,” we must look at the breakdowns to offer immediate and practical solutions to poverty in Japan. Rather than thinking about the affluence of Japan, it is essential to understand the underlying gaps to fill. We take a look at Japan’s three poorest prefectures and see the common themes that Japan needs to tackle.

Why these 3 prefectures have the highest poverty rates in Japan

Homeless support organization fights hunger in Tokyo

Japan’s homelessness circumstance may not be as severe as other countries, but we cannot ignore its existence, especially with the homeless’ welfare and the stigma that comes with it. Some organizations are reaching out a hand to these homeless folks, including supporting them with food and housing.

Homeless support organization fights hunger in Tokyo