There is no sleep for the weary eyed young workers of Japan, as a new generation struggles to enter into the job market and leave life in the lower class behind. While the struggle of a young and aspiring professional, or labor, is nothing new, the true gap of classes in Japan is reveling its self through the new generation of workers.
A report has shown that around ‘75% of Japan's Internet cafes provide shelter to regular overnight guests who are too poor to afford rent or cannot go home’. These young people are literally living at Internet cafes and manga kissa (comic book cafes), many of which have sofas, meals, sometimes showers at low cost, and some even sell underwear. ” The report has prompted Japan to launching a study into so-called “Net cafe refugees”, who are feared to become a new class of working poor. The Japanese's government has become concerned that the numbers of “Net cafe refugees” is only growing, most of which are young day laborers, who cannot afford the cost of renting an apartment, or afford to travel home during the week. ‘A five-hour stay at an Internet cafe in Tokyo costs about 3,000 yen (25 dollars) with a meal served. Showers are available at 200 yen for 30.’ (AFP)
The study looks to reveal some grave concerns for the Japanese government, and show the increasing gap in the social classes of this so-called fairly equal society. It appears that a lot needs to be done regarding fair wages and labor standards, or there will be a new generation of children with little to look forward to.