All Japanese people are hedonists without exception.
How did the strange phenomenon of Japanese people, who prioritize their immediate self-interest without any consideration for future sustainability, come to be? The answer lies in the fact that those who orchestrated this system made a fundamental mistake in their approach. And what was that mistake? It was that the orchestrators themselves were excessively greedy.
The Japanese, unable to live in any way other than a hedonistic and short-sighted manner… This mindset has permeated all levels of society, from the elite to the lower classes.
For example, among the lower classes, pachinko parlors are packed on the days when welfare payments are distributed. Among the elite, most parents install their incompetent sons as company presidents. High-ranking bureaucrats and politicians endlessly accumulate debt… These are just a few examples.
Note: Setsunashugi (刹那主義, short-termism) is a philosophy that disregards the past and the future, focusing solely on maximizing the present moment. It also refers to a way of life that seeks temporary pleasure or exploitation without considering the future misfortunes (such as a lack of sustainability) that these actions may bring.
Japan is currently facing serious challenges. While other countries continue to grow and change, Japan alone seems unable to move forward. For instance, surveys indicate that about 70% of Japanese citizens feel financial hardship.
And yet, we continue to elect leaders who push the same policies that made Japan struggle in the first place. This may point to a deep contradiction within our society.
Take, for example, the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 2023. Even after a year, reconstruction still faces numerous challenges. Although television and newspapers discuss the recovery efforts on the anniversary, there seems to be no meaningful debate about the most crucial topic: the future of these communities.
The estimated costs for the reconstruction of the Noto Peninsula are as follows:
Public expenditure: \1.3 trillion to \1.8 trillion
Private sector reconstruction costs: \400 billion to \900 billion
Economic support: \200 billion to \300 billion
Total: Approximately \1.9 trillion to \3 trillion
If we divide this cost among all the affected households, the reconstruction cost per household would be approximately \34.22 million to \54.04 million. However, many of these households are elderly, and in 10 years, the number of households is expected to be reduced by half. In that case, the cost per household would rise to \68.44 million to \108.08 million. In 20 or 30 years, further population decline is expected.
Moreover, out of the six municipalities affected by the disaster (Wajima City, Suzu City, Anamizu Town, Noto Town, Nanao City, and Shika Town), five—excluding Nanao City—are already on the 2024 list of "municipalities at risk of disappearing." It is impossible to consider the region’s future without acknowledging these realities.
The issue we face is not merely about how much money (taxpayer debt) we should spend on earthquake recovery. The real question is whether that money will serve as an investment in the future or whether it will merely be a temporary patch that leads to ghost towns. Ignoring this question while pouring massive amounts of tax money into reconstruction could be considered irresponsible.
The same issue was debated during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. At that time, approximately \40 trillion was allocated, yet it is hard to say that deep discussions on regional sustainability took place.
Japan is now facing undeniable and serious sustainability risks, including "global boiling," "an era of frequent mega-earthquakes," and "the aging and deterioration of infrastructure such as water systems, bridges, and roads." If we continue to ignore sustainability amid these massive changes, we will eventually lose our own future and that of our children.
What matters now is thinking together about what we can do at this moment. The future is shaped by the awareness of each individual. Why not speak up and share your thoughts and opinions? That single step could help protect our future.
Perhaps Japan is a nation whose people have been stripped of their true ability to think due to misguided education. In the coming fractured and destructive world, we may soon find ourselves unable to cope. Sigh…