Japan Life

Strong wage growth? Anything can be hidden under that lofty title. Many companies here do "raise" wages, but only to cover inflation. The average Japanese here does not know what the inflation rate is and that what they are getting is actually worth less. Or he doesn't care because "めんどくさい". Actual pay raises, such as two or one decade ago, where there was an actual pay raise every year at more or less the same inflation rate and currency value, just aren't there. But people here are not in the habit of questioning anything. If you're lucky, you get more, but buy the same amount of stuff as before.