The part with the market not really affecting regular people is key. I imagine a big part of it is also the fact that people have guaranteed services like healthcare and retirement isn't tied to the stock market. If the market crash only ends up affecting the rich then it might have a positive effect forcing them to continue breaking with US policy.
Our healthcare system is honestly pretty solid. The annual health checks we have is probably the single biggest reason for our high life expectency. I was surprised to hear a lot of folks in the US never go to the hospital for preventative care.
Retirement eh....well, we will see if a pension still exists by the time (people aren't sure, and they keep trying to kick up the retirement age). In theory, we have pretty decent retirement options with a public pensions everyone pays into, plus a private pension your employer pays into. I know folks retiring now, and none of them really ever did any investing at all. Especially that generation, there is a pretty common distrust of the financial markets and banks.
I did some calculations a while ago, and assuming (big assumption) that the pension systems remains fairly constant to my retirement, I would be capable of retiring reasonably comfortably. Not going to be traveling the world or anything, but definitely more than enough for me. Especially as I plan to retire somewhere even more rural than I am now, which would lower the cost of living drastically.
That doesn't sound too bad at all. Just being able to live comfortably in your old age is already than more than most people in US or Canada can hope for.
I am in the mountains around Mt Fuji now (that is a massive area, I am not significantly doxing myself folks, don't worry) and it is pretty nice, but I definitely wouldn't mind more towards Hokkaido. I love the cold though, I will take a snowstorm over Tokyo summer any day.
The part with the market not really affecting regular people is key. I imagine a big part of it is also the fact that people have guaranteed services like healthcare and retirement isn't tied to the stock market. If the market crash only ends up affecting the rich then it might have a positive effect forcing them to continue breaking with US policy.
Our healthcare system is honestly pretty solid. The annual health checks we have is probably the single biggest reason for our high life expectency. I was surprised to hear a lot of folks in the US never go to the hospital for preventative care.
Retirement eh....well, we will see if a pension still exists by the time (people aren't sure, and they keep trying to kick up the retirement age). In theory, we have pretty decent retirement options with a public pensions everyone pays into, plus a private pension your employer pays into. I know folks retiring now, and none of them really ever did any investing at all. Especially that generation, there is a pretty common distrust of the financial markets and banks.
I did some calculations a while ago, and assuming (big assumption) that the pension systems remains fairly constant to my retirement, I would be capable of retiring reasonably comfortably. Not going to be traveling the world or anything, but definitely more than enough for me. Especially as I plan to retire somewhere even more rural than I am now, which would lower the cost of living drastically.
That doesn't sound too bad at all. Just being able to live comfortably in your old age is already than more than most people in US or Canada can hope for.
My annual check-up revealed some health issues, which made me change my lifestyle a lot. I can clearly see how it can promote longevity.
Btw, which inaka would you consider? Looking at the summers this year, I feel the northern parts would still be livable in the future.
I am in the mountains around Mt Fuji now (that is a massive area, I am not significantly doxing myself folks, don't worry) and it is pretty nice, but I definitely wouldn't mind more towards Hokkaido. I love the cold though, I will take a snowstorm over Tokyo summer any day.