In Japan, a recent publication by author Toianna has
captured the public's attention by addressing a growing social
phenomenon: “ weak
men .” According to her book titled “弱者男性
1500万人時代” (The Era of 15
Million Weak Men), one in eight Japanese and one in four men identify
as “weak men.” This category, which is not strictly defined by
economic criteria, encompasses men who face challenges such as poverty,
disability or social isolation .
The term “weak men” emerged in a context of social
change in Japan. For decades, the country was known as a uniformly middle-class
society. However, data from 2018 reveals that one in six Japanese
people live in poverty , with an annual household income of less than
1.27 million yen (about $8,000). In fact, one in every hundred Japanese
subsists on less than 210 yen a day (about $1). These changes have
given rise to a growing group of men who, despite their efforts, are unable to
improve their economic or social situation.
The notion of “weak men” includes those
who might not be perceived as such at first glance. For
example, a man with a high income might be considered a “strong man,” but if he
is trapped in an abusive relationship that leaves him without financial
autonomy, he may also be considered weak . This category is
not merely a quantitative label, but a way to recognize the various ways in
which men can feel marginalized or powerless in society.
An interesting aspect is the relationship between
the concept of “weak men” and the previous term “ KKO ” (キモくて金のないおっさん), which
roughly translates to “poor, ugly old men . ” This derogatory
term, popularized on social media in 2015, highlighted the social stigma
towards men who did not meet traditional standards of success or
attractiveness. However, the transition from “KKO” to “weak men”
reflects an attempt to approach the issue with more empathy and understanding .
Toianna's book estimates that there are up to 15.04
million “weak men” in Japan , representing approximately 24% of the
male population. A survey of more than 500 men revealed that 26.2%
identify as “weak men ,” which is equivalent to about 16 million
people in the country. The main reasons for this self-identification include
low income, lack of friends, and difficulties communicating with others.
Despite the increasing visibility of
“weak men,” Japanese society still shows little empathy and support toward this
group. The idea that men must be inherently strong
and self-sufficient contributes to many underestimating their problems and
needs. This lack of recognition and support is reflected in the “pity ranking”
proposed by writer Kei Mitatera (御田寺圭),
where “weak men” are placed low on the scale of public sympathy.
In conclusion, the growing discussion about
“weak men” in Japan points to an urgent need to reconsider how various forms of
vulnerability are understood and supported in society. This topic is
not only relevant to men, but also offers a critical perspective on social
expectations and empathy towards those struggling to find their place in a
changing world.
- « What
happens to older women? ».
- « That's
exactly it! They only criticize older men, while they defend women with
all their might. Isn't that weird? ».
- « Isn't
it that the general opinion is “let them say what they want”? ».
- « If
you wrote “old, ugly and poor women”, they would say that it is sexism,
but with men it is allowed. What a superficial article .
- « The
crime rate is overwhelmingly different. If you exclude minor crimes,
violent crimes are hundreds of times more common in men. "It is
normal for people with a minimum of intelligence to be more cautious with
men than with women ."
- " The
ineptitude of the Japanese is not limited to one in eight ."
- « It
may be because my face is too unpleasant, but in recent years, it is
common for me to wait five minutes in front of the supermarket checkout
and no one comes .»
- « Dumb
women are only interested in Johnny's idols or hosts. "They should
thank us for keeping us away from them ."
- « Especially
with men, the term “otaku” has been changed to “autism spectrum disorder” ».
- « I
am a woman, but I see that half of men have a mild autism spectrum
disorder. Not to put them down, but it's like “how come they don't
understand that?” I am surprised by your lack of understanding and limited
vision .
- « I
am a bald, unemployed man who has never had relationships. I come from the
world by not bathing so that my body odor is strong .
- « Don't
you realize that these types of discussions are discriminatory? ».
- « There
are no strong people anywhere! All humanity is weak! ...me and you are
weak too! ».
- " There
are more weak men, more strong women and more people with undefined gender ."
- « Sure,
the dating world is a place full of people who are not popular. If you ask
someone who is involved in that world, they will say that most people are
weak men .
- « And
what happens to women over 30 who are not even seen by those men who are
not popular? ».
Source: Yaraon!
