NP Rank:
The FREITAR uprising in Japan.
By, Uwe Paschen.
Shibuya, the heart of the new Japan.
Shibuya is in Tokyo, a district where over the past decade young and different minded Japanese have established them self, for one it is a cheaper area to live in and further it has become the Heart of the Freiters movement that oppose the establishment of conservative Japan.
It may be compared with the movement of May 1968 in Europe, only Japanese stile.
Demanding social justice, equality and the end of feudalistic Capitalism as is practiced today in most industrialised countries.
Shibuya is a very different Japan then the one most know or that may be portrayed abroad and even through out Japan.
Shibuya is the Heart of a new movement called the Freeter or also the Freitar Union.
The freeters are originally the Young Generation of 15 to 35 year olds that are unemployed or part time workers. Yet today they are more and more the Young 20 to 45 years old that are in many cases well educated and yet unemployed or Part time and or free lance worker. Unable to find full time or protected employment with benefits and pension plans due to a new form of Capitalism born with the colaps of the Soviet Union in 1990.
The Freeters Union has now grown into a new form of Workers uprising demanding Social justice and an end to Capitalistic exploitation.
ABSTRACT:
>> Takeo Kinoshita, 62, a professor of social welfare at Showa Women's University in Tokyo, said the creation of unions by nonregular workers across Japan "reminds me of how the labor movement started."
"Youths who have no rights have started to rise up to mount movements aimed at pursuing universal justice, dismissing the behavior of corporations seeking their own interests. The movements are small but have big potential."<<
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As long as the Soviet Union was in existence the Capitalistic System in the West kept it self in check and made sure that Workers and Employees were well treated and happy more out of fear of having Communist Movements taking over then out of good will.
However, once the threat of Communism vanished with the fall of the Soviet Union, Capitalism embraces its old doctrines of Feudalism and exploitation of the working force. Having no reason to fear a worker uprising or the influence of Communist Ideas any longer.
This lead to Multi Nationals and Savage Capitalism being reborn a new. Leaving many unemployed and if employed no longer as full time workers, only as part time or contract workers and free lance worker with out protection, nor benefits. Profits grow and take overs as well. Yet, the Work force never saw any of those gains.
Out sourcing, became the norm and exploitation the rule.
Leaving more and more people along the road being unemployed and struggling to make ends meet for food, shelter and Health care. Out of this struggle is born a return to Socialistic Ideals and systems. Japan seems to be leading the way with the Freeters Union, that is demanding nothing less than a revolution and the end of Capitalism as is.
They do sympathise with Socialist and Communist Ideas and support the Communist as well as the Socialist Party. Even though the Old class is still in power and due to the Baby Boom of the 1950 does out number the Younger generation they are persistent and their demands legitimate.
The freeters make up the majority of the youth today even though they are a minority with in the population over all. Due to the declining birth rate and the aging Baby Boomer Generations. They are the generation that will soon take over control of Japan and they certainly do not like Corporate Capitalism nor living from hand to mouth.
Many can hardly make ends meet, even though they hold up to 4 part time jobs as server, clerk, Teacher, Bank clerk… Having to pay at least 500 EURO in rent for a 20 scare meter flat and making less then 6 EURO per Hour, many cannot afford the Utility bill or the Food bill any longer.
Most do not eat Fish or Meat, nor fruits or vegetable on a regular basis since they are simply too expensive, forcing them to live on Rice most of the time. The Freeters are demanding changes and favour Marxist Ideas over Free markets or Capitalism, for they have to bear the burden of this system and suffer under its injustice.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeter (フリーター furītā?)
(The German word Arbeit is commonly used as the Japanese loanword arubaito for "part-time job".)
http://www.iww.org/en/node/4085
http://noordinarysun.blogspot.com/2007/06/freeters-of-world-unite.html
Crowd Power
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Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan -
logan.fulcher
Boulder, Colorado, United States
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (66)
at 02:18 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff. Finally something actually from 'your neck of the woods.' but did you really mean that the Russians 'clapped' for this kind of Capitalism?
at 02:42 on September 13th, 2008
Yes Rene, You are correct, Russian where euphoric about Capitalism at first, as where the East German and other East European countries, until they realised what it really was. Why today there is a growing opposition to it and a return in force of Socialist and even Communist Ideas. Yet no one wants to return to Stalinism nor to Fascism. However they want Socialism or Social Capitalism not what is been practised now, that look more like Feudalism or also called savage Capitalism.
Thank you for the read, comment and Flag here, I do appreciate it.
at 00:52 on September 14th, 2008
In the finance world is a first new expression "Social responsable capital investment". fits to your comment "social capitalism"
The 68 revolution was against establishment 1968. The japanese movement is a late take off, of a generation " game" boy view of the world in the pocket of my mobile phone". I am not in Japan, but I doubt, they move any thing to "Go create my world" it's just a sign of degeneration of the industrial society, like happens in Europe and US. Akio Morita the founder of Sony was a other breed. Could he ever imagine that the walkman, a good invention originally, stupifies an entire generation later. Young people are disconnected from the world from their neighbours by constant MP3 player use; they fear to interact. Japans youth will be overrun by the emerging cultures China-India Brazil. The constant game addcition of Japan, same like in France has to be interrupted, young people have to stop to game the world, they have to be instructed to create their world. Japan is still introverted, the young chinese generation opens to the world, change the habits, supported by their parents, something of being "curious to the world happening". Great theme Paschen, now waiting for backfiring to get the discussion running, the international de-industrialisation that followed the globalisation.
at 00:49 on September 15th, 2008
There is some truth to your comment here SOLARLIFE. However those Young people are for the most part no gamer and no dummies either. They are worth of in some cases then China's Youth and some of then would redelly embrace China's system and politics rather then Japan's. Some of the blame is with the Baby Boomer generation that has kept the youth down and even suppressed to some extend due to the demographic imbalance.
Japan's Freeter movement is nothing to be taken lightly, they are fighting the establishment and Capitalism as did the 68 generation in Europe. The difference here is that Japanese take a long time to get angry, yet once they do you better wash out.
at 02:59 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's great stuff.
Thanks for posting this Paschen.
at 19:34 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you Heritage.
at 04:06 on September 13th, 2008
great stuff Paschen,your observation skill is really great.it feels good when i read these kind of story of public effort from any part of the world.
at 04:17 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you amitjha for the comment. Lets hope they efforts will be rewarded.
at 04:25 on September 13th, 2008
surely mr Paschen, rewards will come, i am an indian and know the fruits of efforts of civil dis-obedience movement and non violence.
at 04:29 on September 13th, 2008
It is not always easy to keep it non violent on either sides the tensions and emotions can run high. Yet the will is there and that is a start.
at 04:25 on September 13th, 2008
nice article... too bad about the grammar and spelling
if it were written in standard English, it could be in the mainstream media
you need an editor
at 20:18 on September 15th, 2008
Yes, you may be correct here. I appreciate the input. Then again you are welcome to edit it and let me know, you can even add your Name as Editor.
Further would be the question of what is more important? The message, the information or the medium and the use of Writing rules that change constantly and never seem to be logical.
As we move into an International, multicultural and multi lingual World what will prevail?
The message and the Information or outdate rules of writing that change from country to country and even with in Countries?
at 16:36 on September 16th, 2008
Paschen, thanks for sharing this story with us. I agree completely that it's the message that is important. Moreso than the grammar and spelling. The article flows nicely, conveys all the relevant details and gets the point across. It also draws some nice historical comparisons for those of us, like myself, who don't know much about other countries' histories.
Be well.
at 04:33 on September 13th, 2008
we have been taught since childhood , there is no reasons in the world which will force you to kill any body.well this might seem bit philosphical but this can solve whole lot of problem of world.there is only one mantra that is just love unconditionaly.
at 08:13 on September 13th, 2008
I do agree and I know that some cultures are more violent then others in large part due to their upbringing and Philosophy followed as a society, in Religion and Politics as well as business.
at 09:04 on September 13th, 2008
Amit Jha, Well said !
The potential to understand what you have said is the main quality which seperates Human Beings from mere animals in the forest ...
When I lived in India I saw very clearly what you speak of, in terms of the way Indian culture forms Indian People ...
When I began asking myself why and how a country like America could be so different - this is when I began to understand a very terrible truth ...
at 06:02 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:39 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you Milieunet for the read, Comment and Flag, I do appreciate it.
at 08:00 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 00:02 on September 14th, 2008
Thank you Jordan, Much appreciated.
at 08:18 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff. You've brought something new to me. I was totally unaware of this movement in Japan.
at 19:24 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you for the read here Barbara as well as the comment and GS, I do appreciate it. Yes, the Freeters or Freitar stated out here and are getting well organised lately, however they do seem to have some influence in Europe as well now and did inspire similar movements in France and Germany. I see it as the begging of a new labour movement.
One that may have learned from mistakes made in the past.
at 08:56 on September 13th, 2008
Source: nowpublic.com
Thank you for this. I believe you are absolutely correct ...
at 19:20 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you Emilio for the read, Comment and Flag here, I do appreciate it. Sadly it does seem that way. We may need a new Labour force uprising as we had so many in the 20th century.
at 09:01 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff. Reminds me of the "Alternative Society" movement in England in the '70's when people refused to carry money, lived communally and refused to shop in chain stores or wear chain store clothes, etc., etc. (Most came from very rich homes, of course!)
at 00:04 on September 14th, 2008
Yes, there are similarities with the late 1960 and early 1970 in Europe, However the Freeters are any thing but well of and most are not from well of Families either. Thank you for the read, comment and Flag, I do appreciate it.
at 09:57 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Who do you hold responsible for failures and corruption in socialist and communist systems? As a temporary social phenomena this is great and interesting, but I don't see any new news on communist ideology. Isn't it still just as unworkable a system as ever? Doesn't it still require all the phases as laid down by Marx, all the suffering and upheaval.
at 19:11 on September 13th, 2008
Ah, good question. The failure was in the fact that it was no longer a socialist system after Lenin, yet became a Fascist rather then Socialist. WWII did not help either nor did the Cold war and Churchill's ambition do destroy the Soviet Union in 1945. Yet it did create a fear in the Western Capitalist System. Real Socialism was actually in Sweden and west Germany. Thank you for the read comment and Flag here. I appreciate it.
at 09:09 on September 13th, 2008
Paschen, I like this story. It's good stuff. Really interesting and informative piece.
at 19:26 on September 13th, 2008
Thank you for the Visit, Read, Comment and Flag here LotusFlower, I do appreciate it.