Overview
Lately, I feel like there have been frequent news reports about the difficulties faced by entry-level workers—those who have just graduated from college or graduate school and are entering the workforce for the first time—in finding jobs. While this trend has long existed in developed Western countries, a similar phenomenon is now emerging in China, South Korea, and India. As you may know, there are large numbers of young people in China referred to as the “Lying-Flat Generation” (躺平) and in South Korea as the “Three-Let-Go Generation.” Although this trend has been declining in Japan in recent years, those who belong to the generation that experienced the so-called “Job Ice Age” likely remember suffering particularly from this phenomenon.
One possible cause is that the number of university students exceeds societal demand. University administrators and government agencies with vested interests are motivated to encourage ordinary households to invest heavily in education; however, when this goes too far, it results in excessive educational investment that does not yield a commensurate return. Consequently, young people are unable to secure jobs that match their educational background, leading to frustration as they enter society and, in many cases, causing them to drop out altogether.
In fact, large corporations also hire more employees than they actually need. It is often pointed out that employees at these companies perform meaningless tasks—so-called “bullshit jobs”—and this is likely due to overhiring. As a result, employees at large corporations over the age of 35 to 40 must work under constant pressure of layoffs, and it is not uncommon for them to actually be laid off, leading to financial ruin.
As for why they do not strive to maintain an appropriate staffing level, it is presumed that the more candidates there are, the easier it is for those in positions of authority (the ruling class) to exert control. For example, if there is only one employee capable of performing a certain task, management has no choice but to comply with that employee’s demands; however, if there are several alternative candidates, management can simply say, “If you don’t like it, quit.” Since securing a large pool of replacement workers is necessary for managing and controlling an organization, this means that the number of people with higher education and employees at large corporations tends to be consistently excessive.
Since government agencies, capitalists, and executives of large corporations have no desire to resolve this issue, it will remain difficult to solve in the future. Even if they give the appearance of implementing superficial social policies, the problem will likely persist in essence. This is likely the reason why measures aimed at the “Job Ice Age” generation have had virtually no effect. Although measures to address entry-level employment difficulties are being implemented worldwide, it can be surmised that, in reality, they will yield limited results.
Ultimately, as long as the general public continues to harbor the desire to pursue higher education (to obtain advanced academic credentials) and to work for large corporations to earn high incomes, this problem will likely remain unsolvable. Moreover, this is a system deliberately engineered by government agencies, capitalists, and executives of large corporations. While those who drop out and become NEETs are often dismissed as having personal responsibility or lack of aptitude, the truth is that the societal system itself is also to blame.
This time, I created an anime-pop-style song based on this issue. The lyrics depict game players (the general public) getting angry at game developers (government agencies, capitalists, and executives of major corporations), demanding, “If it’s a bug, fix it!” Well, as my analysis above suggests, in reality, getting angry probably won’t fix anything… The lyrics I wrote are as follows. If you’d like to see the Japanese version, please check the link below.
The Lyrics
🎵 No More Reality
[Verse 1]
I logged in today
But there’s no class to choose
The menu froze up
Guess I’m born to lose
Beyond the village walls
There’s adventure waiting there
But why’d you trip me up
Before I even got somewhere?
Hey, hold on a second
That can’t be right
How am I supposed to move
If I can’t start the fight?
[Pre-Chorus]
No sword in my hand
No magic to cast
Then at least let me play
Why make this last?
This “realistic mode”
Is driving me insane
It’s hitting every nerve
And getting on my brain
[Chorus]
I don’t want this reality!
Just let me start the game!
I don’t want this reality!
If it’s broken, fix the thing!
I don’t want this reality!
Give me back my money now!
I don’t want this reality!
I just wanna play somehow!
[Verse 2]
Someone in the chat says
“Calm down, it’s okay”
Then laughs through their nose
And complains all day
“It’s working as intended”
That’s the face they make
But honestly, there’s no way
I’m buying that mistake
A hero with no job
Isn’t funny anymore
Leave these stupid restrictions
Outside the dungeon door
[Pre-Chorus]
It’s not even gacha
But luck decides it all
Don’t lock every pathway
Right at the starting hall
Feels like somebody’s laughing
Watching players fail
The more I think about it
The more I wanna yell
[Chorus]
I don’t want this reality!
Just let me start the game!
I don’t want this reality!
Call it a bug by name!
I don’t want this reality!
Give me back my time today!
I don’t want this reality!
I just wanna play, okay?!
[Bridge]
Some guy found an exploit
And won’t stop showing off
“Can’t get hired yet?” he says
With a smug little scoff
I’ll smile real sweetly
Then fire back at you
“Do you seriously think
That’s something cool to do?”
[Final Chorus]
I don’t want this reality!
Just let me start the game!
I don’t want this reality!
If it’s broken, fix the thing!
I don’t want this reality!
Give me back my life right now!
I don’t want this reality!
I just wanna play somehow!
I don’t want this reality!
One more time so hear me clear!
I don’t want this reality!
Patch it up and restart here!
The Generated Song
The generated songs are as follows. The YouTube music video used was generated with freebeat.ai.
[Youtube]
[Suno AI]
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