Japan Today

Japan’s “lost generation” came of age during the employment ice age of the 1990s and early 2000s. Promised stable jobs after graduation, they instead faced hiring freezes, temporary contracts and decades of low wages. Now in their 50s, many are still struggling with low pensions, limited savings and social isolation. The government has pledged new support through reskilling programs and pension reform, but critics question whether it’s too late.