Japan doesn’t seem to have a huge wealth gap, at least not an obvious one, but it’s a capitalist country after all. Who are the richest people in Japan?? How many people are below the poverty line? Let’s find out.
Words mentioned/useful words
舟屋 funaya - boat houses (famous in Ine, Kyoto)
億万長者 okumanchouja - billionaire, multi millionaire, very rich person
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email atconbinicultpod@gmail.com
Frankie - @franklinthewoman
Cheyenne - @lostwithlow
**Since we recorded this episode on Jan 12th, seems like Forbes has updated info based on 2024 stats. Numbers 1-3 remain the same but their net worths are even higher now. See here:https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/
References:
Forbes list https://www.forbes.com/lists/japan-billionaires/
How Ethical Is Uniqlo?https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-uniqlo/
Uniqlo and the women owed $5.5 million
https://cleanclothes.org/news/2020/uniqlo-and-the-women-owed-55-million
The Royal Family allowancehttps://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/seido/seido08.html
More than 40% of single elderly women struggle to live in poverty
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15192214
Japan's rich embrace family offices amid market boom and weak yen
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Wealth-Management/Japan-s-rich-embrace-family-offices-amid-market-boom-and-weak-yen
Time stamps
00:00 intro/snow in Kyoto/Cali
9:43 does Japan have billionaires?
12:00 the Forbes list
14:39 the #1 richest person
23:37 #2 and #3 richest
25:30 Japan’s capitalist origins
26:34 Japan’s royal family
31:38 inheritance tax
35:23 poverty rates in Japan
37:46 billionaire family nanny
