ABSTRACT
Comprehensive measurement of Japanese citizens’ wellbeing and its application to policies began in the 2010s. The Japan Cabinet Office launched the “Survey on Satisfaction and Quality of Life” in 2019. Being an Asian country, Japan and its wellbeing policy provides a cultural context different from that of Europe and the United States. In this chapter we examine microdata from the Survey on Satisfaction and Quality of Life. We determine that average satisfaction follows a U-shaped pattern that is common in many other countries, with higher satisfaction in youth, a decrease in middle age, and an increase in old age. Compared with the middle-aged period, in which individuals face challenges in life, variations in subjective wellbeing tend to decrease among older age groups, particularly for those aged 70 and above. This decrease is attributed to income security through public pensions, which reduces income disparity among the elderly. When comparing Japan to other countries, we find that Japan exhibits strengths in the areas of longevity, safety, and basic economic and lifestyle factors, while it has weaknesses in emotional stability, social connections, freedom to make life choices, gender issues, and diversity. We highlight the need to reform workstyle and consider heterogeneity within the population, principles that have been followed by the Japanese government in several wellbeing initiatives. Furthermore, we call for addressing such challenges as the advancement of remote work and adoption of the 4-day workweek, which emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
