The news focuses on the fading special aura of people earning an annual salary of 10 million yen ($90,000) in Japan. Once considered a point of prestige and affluence, a 10-million-yen annual salary does not hold the same exalted status anymore due to inflation, higher cost of living, and shifting societal norms. This change in perceptions has spurred conversations about wealth, societal values, and the changing dynamics of the Japanese economy.
In Japan, the perception towards wealth and income is undergoing a shift. An annual salary of 10 million yen, once considered a marker of affluence, no longer holds the same status due to an increase in living standards, changing societal norms, and higher inflation rate. Japanese society is now reassessing its measure of success and prosperity, considering factors like work-life balance and fulfillment.
Similar shifting viewpoints on income and wealth are observed in places like the U.S. or the EU, where high income does not necessarily equate to a high standard of living due to the increasing cost of living. Societies in these regions are also addressing wealth inequality and reassessing the true measure of success and prosperity beyond monetary wealth.