Social inequality in post-growth Japan: transformation during economic and demographic stagnation

In recent decades Japan has changed from a strongly growing, economically successful nation regarded as prime example of social equality and inclusion, to a nation with a stagnating economy, a shrinking population and a very high proportion of elderly people.

Within this, new forms of inequality are emerging and deepening, and a new model of Japan as 'gap society' (kakusa shakai) has become common-sense.

These new forms of inequality are complex, are caused in different ways by a variety of factors, and require deep-seated reforms in order to remedy them.

This work provides a comprehensive overview of inequality in contemporary Japan.