Social Problems in Modern Japan (Based on the Materials of the Russian-Japanese Press)

The article characterizes the current social problems of Japanese society based on their representation in the online media. Among the key crises identified are demographic collapse, evidenced by widespread population aging and a sharp decline in birth rates, attributed to youth disinterest in sustaining the institution of family and the proliferation of trends in individualization and consumerism. The educational crisis manifests in rising ag-gression among minors in child collectives, intense competition for admission to educational institutions, and upon graduation. The prevalence of lifetime employment systems further restricts individual choice and inde-pendent development. Gender discrimination and the degradation of spiritual values among the populace are also highlighted. The emergence of these unfavorable phenomena in the social sphere is attributed to a com-plex of cultural and axiological transformations of modernity, some of which are common to all economically developed countries. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that addressing these issues in the social sphere consti-tutes significant areas of work for both the Japanese government and ordinary citizens.