Ishiba to announce plans for 'happiness index'

Well, start by promoting salary increases, and set a minimum wage.

One, be prepared to be disappointed on that "happiness" index. And two, expect the yen to go back to 162 or lower against the USD.

… Ishiba will likely renew vows to fight inflation and announce a plan for a new monetary stimulus package.

i thought we were fighting deflation, now inflation?

new, meaning another, monetary stimulus package? great, let’s print money to reduce inflation?

happiness index.... with a prize for the best entry for mascot?

That will solve all Japanese problem, Japan really know how to priority in the right place.

Somehow, if it’s even possible, encourage (or urge through incentives) companies to pay all its workers (even those on contracts) more and upper management less. Basically, better distribute the wealth.

And there you have Japanese politics in a nutshell. "Ishiba is an outsider, he thinks differently, if he is elected there will be big changes."

But what do we have? The same old stuff. We need more kids, how don't know. We will raise the minimum wage. When? By 2030!!!

IF anyone really thought that he would be able to anything substantive they must not have lived her very long.

"The premier will also announce plans to increase Japan's average minimum wage to 1,500 yen ($10.22) by 2030, from the current 1,055 yen, local media reported."

And that, LDP supporters, and others, tells you all you need to know about how serious the LDP are about wage justice.

The premier will also announce plans to increase Japan's average minimum wage to 1,500 yen ($10.22) by 2030, from the current 1,055 yen, local media reported.

These attempts to shore up per-capita GDP in the world's number-four economy are part of his vision to raise the public's level of happiness, they said.

By 2030 that 1,500 yen is going to be worth 1,055 yen.

The LDP is very stubborn to do things to actually raise living standards besides empty rhetoric.

Their vision is Neo-feudal and as Ishiba has already stated he is basically sticking to Kishida's policies.

Looks like the appropriate picture to represent the result of the happiness index.

A mandatory minimum of two consecutive weeks vacation a year,

Everyone should be happy with that

Bhutan's had this idea for years ("gross national happiness"). I don't know much about Bhutan, so I can't say if it works, but the idea of a "happiness index" here is kind of...interesting.

"I was praised by the section chief for my report! My happiness index is up!"

"I was scolded by the bucho for mine. My happiness index is down so I have to go out drinking with my colleagues to raise it"

A mandatory minimum of two consecutive weeks vacation a year,

Dream on! Folks far too often try to imagine Japan implementing "foreign" practices as a means to improve conditions here.

The manner in which people here take and use "vacation time" is so different that your "idea" here wont go any further than the time it took you to write it, if that.

"I was scolded by the bucho for mine. My happiness index is down so I have to go out drinking with my colleagues to raise it"

Pre-Covid!!! Lol,

This muppet sure is tone deaf isn't he?

In a nation forged on gentenshugi and gaman he's just asking for trouble with that. I hope everyone's happy, but I'm guessing there's a lot of simmering discontent.

Japan is proud of "gaman". Add to that, "shouganai"... I can imagine those who are in dire circumstances being happy, telling themselves and others that they are happy because blah blah.

life should be something to be enjoyed, not something to be endured.

A "happiness index" is just what is needed to solve Japan's problems.

We are doomed....

Folks far too often try to imagine Japan implementing "foreign" practices as a means to improve conditions here.

I remember a long time ago when people here said Starbucks - which had plans of entering Japan -- would fail here because it bans smoking and that Japanese people don't take out their coffees. Within a year, Starbucks Japan's outlets had the highest turnover of any Starbucks in the world.

Once the Japanese are given the opportunity to experience certain "foreign practices," they so often go crazy on it.

Somehow, if it’s even possible, encourage (or urge through incentives) companies to pay all its workers (even those on contracts) more and upper management less. Basically, better distribute the wealth.

Agree. I was surprised to see the salaries of directors reported in a recent public annual report of a Mitsubishi Group company: ¥500 million/ year in basic compensation, ¥300 million/year in performance-based compensation, and ¥530 million/year in performance-based stock remuneration.

Well, the headline made me chuckle, so I guess my happiness rose by about 0.01% at that exact moment....

Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute and a former Bank of Japan board member, said Ishiba's speech would "likely to be made with a strong awareness of the upcoming general election".

The deep analysis NRI is known for. Or by qualifying things with “likely” is he suggesting some chance that Ishiba forgot he was the one who called it?

Perhaps spending less money on military equipments will provide more money for social issues, decoupling from the policies of Japan's main ally, United States of America, will give people more reason to find happiness, culturally and morally. That would be a first step for the new generation, too dependent on the litter coming from social media. But I am not optimistic with these new clones of servants after the first few announcements they made.

The man has been the LDP Prime Minister for a week and already people here are griping and taking cheap shots at him. There's nothing wrong with what he's said as he's referring to quality of life when he mentions the happiness index. And quality of life's been linked to the drop in the birthrate of Japan regardless of other causes.

You want big salaries and hourly wages and a free non contributable public pension of around 2.6 million yen per year plus some family allowances of around 500,000 yen a year like Australia? Be prepared for high prices and service, entertainment costs etc plus high tax rates for middle income people, higher than Japan and soaring rental/housing prices.

You want an even more generous welfare system like that in Scandinavian countries? Be prepared for sky high rates of tax and corresponding everyday prices The endless whining about Japan's rising prices and salary/wage rates fails to see that the Japanese system is built upon different realities from those and other developed countries. Ishiba can't promise anything like significant salary and wage rises unless you all want to pay the prices which go beyond shopping.

It was the LPD's Koizumi who made the J economy less monopolized and brought in more consumer choices including price choices and Abe who oversaw higher numbers of foreigners given work visas in Japan. Ishiba will be careful in what he does but he will tackle challenges that can't be solved so easily as some think and expect.

And global realities mean Japan will have to start moving away from dependence on American and their allies' soldiers to fight and die for them in the case of military conflict in East Asia. No point hoping that Japan can forever expect to be exempt from its military responsibilities and that means military costs can't be cut to save the budget.

The trend will be to increase these costs because the LPD knows foreigners can't be expected to fight China or whoever while their abled bodied, younger population skate out of doing it. Ishiba is a realist and the J constitution will be changed at some point.

I'm going to wait and see on how Ishiba does. I remember back in 1999 when Obuchi became Prime Minister, he was quite a low man on the LDP totem pole and not all that popular. Within a year, his popularity rose and his policies won favor with many, which was much to my surprise. Unfortunately, he died of karoshi soon after. Ishiba is relatively a lone wolf so I have some hope here for him. Hope he can deliver.

Ishiba government is prioritising winning the election 

This is all any politician does. That is why they never mix with normal people until it is election time

Saw him talking this morning on the news. Yep, gives me the creeps. The happy index? Ok, then mate. Knock yourselves out.

Over/under 18 months in the PM Office.

Not a bad idea but what about : The Frustration Index" ? That will be more appropriate for the thoughts with the LDP!

Sometimes I think the Japanese are happiest when they're miserable, so this proposed happiness index could accidentally induce a paradox of the kind that destroys the universe.

The premier will also announce plans to increase Japan's average minimum wage to 1,500 yen ($10.22) by 2030, from the current 1,055 yen, local media reported.

Look, I'm all for wage increases and all but perhaps we need to proceed with caution instead of making big jumps like this. I've heard from other companies that new fresh out of school employees are earning the same as someone with 8 or more years of experience and had to grind through promotions to get there. I also presume this happens at my firm as well.

There is no point of addressing only the minimum if you don't address the others as well. For example, a minimum wage employee could bust their arsenal for years to get to a position where they finally earn 1,500 yen but here comes the new law where now everyone earns 1,500 minimum. Does this employee get the same amount of increase as well? I don't think so, not unless profits have been able to keep up with wage increases. My guess is that this will lead to a disaster for many SMEs out there as they won't be able to retain their employees any longer. Either that or we will see inflation like never before.

@Fos

"Perhaps spending less money on military equipments will provide more money for social issues, decoupling from the policies of Japan's main ally, United States of America, will give people more reason to find happiness, culturally and morally."

Decouple from the US AND spend less on military, you'll be speaking Chinese in less than 10 years' time.

I could actually get behind this. If "wealth" was an indicator of satisfaction and happiness in life, then the USA would be the happiest. And if High taxation was a sign of unhappiness, I have to wonder why Finland, Norway,Sweden,Iceland,Denmark,Swizterland,NZ et al are happier. Is there a fear of guns, a fear of getting old, a fear of having no money, no safety net, a fear of the future, a fear of no job, GUNs don't apply to Japan, but a fear of getting old, being poor, a weaker safety net, possibly weaker employment laws, are relevant to Japan. Time to focus on the health of a nation and not just WEALTH. We have already developed. Just not sure what we are chasing.

Ishiba will reportedly discuss plans to launch a new disaster management ministry in the earthquake and flood-prone country, as well as stressing the importance of nuclear energy.

I’m against any new ministry but I like the idea of exploring nuclear energy options. in resource-poor Japan, it’s doubtful we will be able to afford oil for much longer if prices continue to raise.

You'll own nothing and be happy.

he premier will also announce plans to increase Japan's average minimum wage to 1,500 yen ($10.22) by 2030, from the current 1,055 yen

we'll believe it when it's in our weekly checks.

and when will this actually take place?

Next month? or in the next decade?

I support judging Japan on general happiness much more than evaluating Japan via the exchange rate or GDP number.

This does not mean I would trust any happiness number produced by the government itself.

Ishiba do nothing : what a bad and lousy PM ; Ishiba do something new : what a funny policy. Lucky not everyone can have the chance to become the PM, and they only qualified to sit behind the screen and complaining, and the most unpopular truth is : most of the people who complained are those who dont even have the citizenship/right to vote

There is no point earning more money per hour if your only going to be forced to save the difference to save for your retirement, save for your health care, save I case you’re sick, save in case you lose you job, save save save, and work work work work. I’d rather pay a bit more in tax for 40 years to not live in fear. Bevan was certainly onto something. The fear of  Want, the fear of disease, a fear of ignorance, a fear of squalor and a fear of forced idleness. All values we still have today. We want a home, we want our health, we want an affordable education, we want to work, and not be a slave. It’s ok if you’re earning tons of cash, but some are just average Suzukis and Hondas. Maybe Japanese people are so scared of the future they’re scared to spend. Scared to have more kids.not an easy conundrum to solve! But if we live our lives, we get abused for not saving enough, and if we save too much we get punished for saving too much, and the country suffers cause consumers cut back. But the share holders will always win.

A picture says a thousand words !!

LDP gibberish more of the same old nonsense.

Nothing ever changes here .

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will propose a new happiness index during his first parliamentary policy speech on Friday, local media have reported.

Looking at how Japanese politicians tend to solve problems this happiness index may be a new duty for people, if you are not happy enough you may lose some rights until you work hard enough to correct that personal deficiency.

He needs to understand that the declining birthrate is directly linked to the rising cost of living.

Kishida tried to encourage couples without children, the government need to focus on helping families with children so childless couples can see that a nice life is possible with children. More tax breaks for families, free school lunches places with no hidden fees, more financial assistance for families.

Just offering 20k to couples to get pregnant was an idiotic idea and did nothing to improve the birthrate..

MoskolloToday  03:16 pm JST

He needs to understand that the declining birthrate is directly linked to the rising cost of living.

absolutely not! This is a misnomer. The fallen birth rate is due to multiple factors. We live longer so we can delay having a family. Women can control their fertility as can men. So we can delay or stop extending our family. We have developed as a country so we have other things to spend our money on(as the government keeps telling us to do) you can’t spend more money on new cars and still have three or four kids. Women are more educated and with equal rights women have more choices in a career.( the truth is we can have it all) you can have a career, but you might want a smaller family to enjoy the new car, trips abroad. We have access to great health care so you have. 99% chance of your single child reaching adulthood. And finally we don’t need more kids because soMe will die of disease, famine and war. And we have moved on from farming. So we do t need more kids to run the family farm. money is always said to be the main reason but that’s not historically the fact. Every nation that has gone on to develop has a falling birth rate. Every poor country has a high birth rate. They may not have access to schools, clean water, sanitation, health care, medication, vaccines, new industries. Do they have access to reproductive control. Do women have equal rights and equal access to education and jobs and that bring money to women who can control their bodies, fertility, and how they spend their money.

Japan's birthrate is highest in the poorest prefecture Okinawa. I would imagine its because it has the most traditional family structures and social norms.

Okinawans are least likely to go to university (40%) which also lowers childraising cost, but this is only 10% lower than big swathes of inaka.

http://www.gakutama.jp/local_metro/rank.html

Happiness index.

You're having a laugh.

Not a good look

I wonder if I will be happy about the details of this Happiness Index...

kohakuebisuOct. 4  08:26 pm JST

Japan's birthrate is highest in the poorest prefecture Okinawa. I would imagine its because it has the most traditional family structures and social norms. 

I would like to think so too, but the research is the opposite. If you are poorer, with fewer opportunities for say higher educations, fewer opportunities for higher payed jobs, fewer career options, and no good role models to emulate, then you're more likely to have a higher birth rate.Mainly because, they may consider, what is their role in society if not highly educated or having a career. Women have time to go to uni, so they spend four years at uni, and if further educated even longer. So this would usually take a women out of the "I'm dating scene, or starting a family earlier, reducing the fertility time." Once she graduates, the women would like to build her career, earn some money, enjoy her life ( because she earns money) so this reduces the fertility time by a few more years, before menopause starts. So women have delayed the search for a partner, and delayed starting a family. compared to the 1950s or 60s, when there were fewer job and education opportunities. So there is probably a correlation between education, careers, health, and earning ability that influences the total fertility rate. That's why we invest heavily in educating girls in poorer countries. Smaller families, frees up capital to be spent on goods and services. ( Thats what the government want) Now women do not have to have a man to provide wealth and security.With some jobs, and her earning ability, she doesn't need a man to provide for the family. Women can now get loans, credit cards, and get divorced easily, this all takes time out of the fertility years. Women were told they can have it all. and they can,( to a point) they just want more freedom, and a smaller family. Politicians want to have high educated women, reducing the fertility rate, freeing up money to spend on the smaller family, but then wants to have more kids, which takes up a lot of time, financial capital, and time. And thats before the politicians have said, you gotta save for uni, save for your pension. Poorer education equals a higher fertility rate. So higher education results in a smaller TFR. Sorry but it's nothing to do with family ties.

Actually the word is out of Ishiba's plan to change the national anthem from "Kimigayo" to Bobby McFerrin's song "Don't Worry Be Happy".

(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy

(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy!

FosOct. 4 09:07 am JST

Perhaps spending less money on military equipments will provide more money for social issues,

Japan spends 1.5% of gdp on the military and much much less than that to compensate the US.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” - Mahatma Gandhi