Published on September 24, 2019.
This essay discusses Japan’s aging society, the “20 million yen retirement issue,” pensions, welfare, self-help, and the meaning of work, while contrasting ordinary citizens who must earn their living through labor with opposition politicians who are paid merely to criticize the government.

September 24, 2019.
The only way to reconcile saving and consumption is to work and earn money.
Unlike opposition lawmakers who receive salaries merely for criticizing the government, ordinary citizens must sweat.
The following is a chapter published on July 5, 2019, under the title: Rich in nature, with delicious food and kind people—Japan must, at all costs, pass this “beautiful country” on to the next generation.
The following is the continuation of the previous chapter.
Taking Responsibility for One’s Life.
The Hong Kong students who attend my Japanese-language school never call themselves “Chinese.”
They are, to the very end, “Hong Kongers.”
I feel the difference between them and Japanese people who lack national consciousness.
Rich in nature, with delicious food and kind people—Japan must, at all costs, pass this “beautiful country” on to the next generation.
The wall standing before us is the declining birthrate and aging population.
Amid this, the “20 million yen retirement issue” is causing an uproar.
It is said that a report by the Financial Services Agency stated that savings of 20 million yen would be necessary in order to live until the age of ninety-five.
The opposition parties are pursuing the government as though they had seized the head of a demon.
With the House of Councillors election approaching, their intention to turn this into an election issue is transparent.
Renho was once again loudly shouting, “Since when did this become a country of self-help?”
But because of the declining birthrate and aging population, the number of workers is decreasing, and the country’s social security costs are increasing.
A certain amount of savings, in other words self-help effort, is only natural.
Japan is a country where each person can design a different life and live freely.
That means each person must take responsibility for his own life.
The figure of 20 million yen is, after all, only one estimate.
If one lives simply, one can manage without 20 million yen.
If one wants to live luxuriously, even 100 million yen will not be enough.
That said, the state must care for the elderly with a certain level of pension, and must provide public assistance to those who cannot work because of unavoidable circumstances.
For that purpose, it is necessary to improve the economy and raise tax revenues.
In the end, there is no choice but for us to spend money.
The only way to reconcile saving and consumption is to work and earn money.
Unlike opposition lawmakers who receive salaries merely for criticizing the government, ordinary citizens must sweat.
I encourage my university-student grandchild to work part-time, saying, “At least earn your own spending money.”
My grandchild, who works at a restaurant, was delighted that the hourly wage had risen by thirty yen.
It is not a question of the amount.
When people feel that their contribution to society has been recognized, they feel happiness.
It is said that a former administrative vice-minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries killed his reclusive son.
The mistake was that he spoiled him as much as he could.
Praise when one should praise.
Scold when one should scold.
That is what discipline means.
Before it became too late, he should have made him work.
If he was going to trouble others, then it would be better for me to kill him myself—after agonizing and agonizing, an elite who had risen through the bureaucratic organization judged so.
It is sad, but one can say that he fulfilled his responsibility as a parent.
There must be many parents who have the same worries, though the degree may differ.
Fortunately, under Abenomics, labor shortages are being spoken of everywhere.
Precisely now, when it is easy to find work, I want them to regard this as a chance to break through the present situation.
This essay will continue.