Poverty exists even in developed countries. The term “working poor” originated in the U.S., referring to people who work but earn below the poverty line, the minimum income required to maintain a living. The issue is beginning to gain...
Zenbird Media has covered a myriad of topics in 2021. While changes in Japan are slow, the editors of Zenbird do see positive changes and have identified possible solutions (even though, we hoped for more speed). Despite the 2nd year of...
Poverty holds people back and prevents them from making the most of their lives. It blocks opportunities for individuals, families and especially children. Child poverty continues the unfortunate cycle, as many children in lower-income households...
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted and worsened existing inequalities. People with lower incomes and in less stable jobs are especially vulnerable. In Japan, many of these kinds of jobs are taken up by women. Japan’s emphasis on...
Young people all over the world face challenges regarding their life and employment. The job market is increasingly competitive, with more unstable work and a decreasing supply of career-track jobs. This is especially true for Japanese young people...
One may not think poverty is an issue in Japan. After all, Japan’s nominal GDP is ranked third globally. It is also advanced in both medical and technological aspects and is one of the world’s top consumption centers. Yet, poverty...
The Big Issue Japan, a social magazine sold by homeless people on the streets, is now taking up the issue of food waste by running a bakery that only opens at night. Yoru no Panya-san (Night-time Bakery) procures leftover bread from popular bakeries...
The coronavirus pandemic has had severe effects on Japan and the rest of the world. The most devastating impacts are, of course, the millions who have succumbed to or have been infected with the disease. While Japan has fared better than other...
From January 6, Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures entered its second lockdown due to COVID-19. The lockdown announced on this occasion is somewhat “softer” compared to the earlier one and does not include the closure of schools. Even...
Japanese women face many professional and personal challenges. Traditional gender roles and other societal factors play a large part in holding them back in both areas of their lives. Such factors have real consequences for the quality of women’s...