[unsignedint]

Having relationship in Japan can be tough when a lot of people are under non-permanent employment which they would get paid less and is unstable. Even if one's lucky enough to have a stable job, there is a problem of practically mandatory overtime (which, incidentally, can be unpaid.)

Though, gap between ideal and reality is certainly a one of issues out there, but financial and time issues have a lot of impact to this problem.

[fjejfjrjdjc]

This is the real issue, and it's where we're headed as well in the west. Unfortunately, we'll probably suffer through this completely avoidable problem because politicians are too beholden to business interests.

[unsignedint]

Their government trying to correct it but doing completely wrong. For instance, for overtime issues, they are trying to cut long hours but if they are already unpaid (and thus, untracked) it just won't work, rather it promotes even more of untracked unpaid overtime rather than eliminating unnecessary overtime.

What they need is real teeth against law breaking buinesses.

Some of Western countries have same problem as well, but Japan's cause for overtime can be tough one as it often carries mentality of management that is heavily process orientated.

[mjevans]

With the two recent recession dips and the long slog of recovery that doesn't seem to have any real vigor, I think the west might already be on this trajectory instead of merely headed there.

[clydethefrog]

Yes, see The strange case of the missing baby [2016]

http://www.economist.com/news/international/21697817-financi...