Recent data reveals that over 9 million people in Japan now find themselves in the "underclass," a term gaining traction to describe those struggling financially. This socio-economic bracket largely includes low-income earners, part-time employees, and the unemployed. Amid Japan's robust economy, this rising economic inequality speaks to the larger issue of wealth distribution and poses a significant challenge to the nation's social fabric and economic stability.

The issue of rising economic inequality is indeed disconcerting in Japan. The country's ethos revolves around community, harmony, and collective prosperity. However, the growing income gap threatens these principles. Typically, the government attempts to address this with economic policies aimed at reducing disparity, but a practical solution still appears elusive.

In contrast, the rising inequality issue is also prevalent in the US and EU, but is often addressed slightly differently. Due to extensive social safety nets, wealth redistribution methods such as progressive taxation, and a more robust debate around minimum wage, income inequality, while still a major issue, is often more openly discussed and tackled in these regions.