Uchikura & Co., LLC

Understanding Japanese Young People Is More Difficult — Even for Me
I was born and raised in Japan, and I have lived long enough to see the country go through many cultural and technological transformations. Yet, even as a Japanese person, I often find it difficult to truly understand the younger generation in Japan today.

 

They have grown up in a world completely different from the one I knew — a world shaped by social media, smartphones, and constant online connectivity. Their values, communication styles, and even sense of humor often seem to exist in a language beyond words, filled with emojis, abbreviations, and silent understanding within their own circles.

 

When I was young, social connection meant meeting in person, talking, and sharing real experiences. Today, it happens mostly on screens. Young people in Japan express themselves differently — often quietly, indirectly, and in ways that reflect both individuality and an underlying need to fit into a collective digital culture.

 

Old people always say, “Young people are dumb, lazy, and lack discipline.” I remember hearing that when I was young — and realizing now, they were talking about me. And today, I find myself saying the same thing about the younger generation. That means, without question, I’ve become one of the old people.

 

It’s fascinating and sometimes frustrating to observe this shift. I see creativity, sensitivity, and intelligence in this new generation — but also isolation, hesitation, and uncertainty. Japan has always been a country of contrasts, and its young people today represent that balance more than ever: global yet local, confident yet reserved, open-minded yet cautious.

 

Perhaps understanding them isn’t about trying to see the world through my own past, but about listening and learning from the way they live now. After all, every generation builds its own version of Japan — and that’s what keeps the country alive and evolving.