> So first, economy in Japan sucks, there is not that many jobs and houses to go around
There are plenty of jobs. In fact, there's a labor shortage. It's just that they're all shitty low-wage part time jobs with no security.
Housing only seems to be a problem in Tokyo. My wife and I have been looking at apartments and there are tons of all sizes that have been open for months. Nothing at all like back home in Sweden where there's a 3 year waiting list even outside of Stockholm.
Even in Tokyo the residential vacancy rates are still very high - more than 10% depending on the ward, and more than 15% when looking at the burbs. Manhattan vacancy rates, as a point of reference, are around 2%.
Prices apparently have been going up (attributed to the upcoming Olympics[1]), but honestly, when I walk around and look at rental prices, they seem pretty reasonable (damn cheap even) compared to say, Los Angeles (smaller units, but also cheaper per BR).
You're definitely right about the rest of the country though, and outside of Tokyo, population has already peaked and is decreasing...
For those w/ a burning interest in JP real estate, comprehensive market research is plentiful:
This is their version of the American corporate reported STEM shortage. There's such a high demand and so few qualified employees that IBM has to lay off thousands a year, every year, for decades.
If there's only "real jobs" for maybe 75% of the population, and 5% of the population decides to opt out leaving only 20% wanting real jobs and unable to get them, then its not really a problem other than freaking out westerners.
It sounds brutal because it is, but if you have too many people for your economy, then people opting out and negative birth rates is both a symptom and the only possible (very long term) cure, not the problem itself.
There really is a labor shortage in Japan and has been for a long time. Govt data shows as much as a 1.1:1 job:job seeker ratio. However, the parent poster is right in that a big part of the problem is that most of the jobs are crap (part-time/temp, terrible pay). I see job-wanted signs in every other restaurant/cafe I pass, but honestly, I don't think most people consider part-time $10/hr at Yoshinoya a long-term career path.
Still, you can take a look at the the search results for "japan labor shortage" yourself. https://www.google.com/search?q=japan+labor+shortage Everything from construction, shipbuilding, airlines, and other kinds of skilled work are also feeling the heat. (other big parts of the problem are lots of skilled labor retiring every year, and terrible hiring, labor and super-xenophobic immigration policies)
There are plenty of jobs. In fact, there's a labor shortage. It's just that they're all shitty low-wage part time jobs with no security.
Housing only seems to be a problem in Tokyo. My wife and I have been looking at apartments and there are tons of all sizes that have been open for months. Nothing at all like back home in Sweden where there's a 3 year waiting list even outside of Stockholm.