- 14 Mar 2002
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While Japan has a relatively low income inequality compared to many other developed nations, its wealth distribution remains uneven:
The value of assets held by Japan's wealthy and super-wealthy has risen to a record ¥469 trillion ($3.1 trillion), while assets held by the majority of people in the country have grown at a much slower pace, according to the Nomura Research Institute. According to NRI's report released Thursday, the wealth of Japan's rich and super-rich more than doubled and tripled between 2011 and 2023, respectively, while assets held by the masses, which account for roughly 80% of Japan's households, only grew 42.2%.
Defining "rich" households as those possessing between ¥100 million to ¥500 million in net assets and "super rich" as those owning more than ¥500 million, NRI also noted that in recent years, a significant portion of households had unexpectedly become wealthy. Their assets grew through systems such as employee share ownership plans and the government's tax-free investment program that began in 2014.
www.japantimes.co.jp
The value of assets held by Japan's wealthy and super-wealthy has risen to a record ¥469 trillion ($3.1 trillion), while assets held by the majority of people in the country have grown at a much slower pace, according to the Nomura Research Institute. According to NRI's report released Thursday, the wealth of Japan's rich and super-rich more than doubled and tripled between 2011 and 2023, respectively, while assets held by the masses, which account for roughly 80% of Japan's households, only grew 42.2%.
While subsequent leaders including Fumio Kishida have called for support for the middle class and a better distribution of the fruits of growth, data show that the policies of Japan's last decade or so have served the rich better than the vast majority of the country's households. Real wages only grew in three of the 13 years through 2023. Meanwhile, in 2023, the top 3% of Japan's richest households held 26% of the country's household net assets.
Defining "rich" households as those possessing between ¥100 million to ¥500 million in net assets and "super rich" as those owning more than ¥500 million, NRI also noted that in recent years, a significant portion of households had unexpectedly become wealthy. Their assets grew through systems such as employee share ownership plans and the government's tax-free investment program that began in 2014.
Assets of Japan’s wealthiest jump to a record $3 trillion
Between 2011 and 2023, the wealth of Japan’s rich more than doubled and super rich tripled.