Middle-Class Japan

Reading a blog which describes the taxi drivers in Taipei now mostly are polite and well-educated. This worries the blogger, only during the recession, over qualified taxi drivers are seen. When in Taiwan in May, I was shocked to learn the news that south Korea passed the legislation to allow Taiwanese earning Korean Wan. Is Taiwan going to be another philippine, which the most famous export is its labour?

Tokyo taxi drivers are usually in their 50s, dressed in suits and maticulously white gloves. Equiped with GPS and automated doors, Tokyo taxi ride experience is only parallable by London black cab (it took London black cab drivers 3 year apprenticeship to acquire a license). They are firece drivers, never let the stereotype Japanese characteristics fool you, they are merciless and roam around town like F1 car racing drivers.

Japan is proud of its large portion of middle class. Middle class is not only limited to the white collar but also includes labourous workers. Artisans are found in every area, from cake baking to kimono making. Farmers or fishmen are especially well taken care of by the government in attempt to secure votes. The living standards is not drasically different between janitors and office workers, who rush to crowded trains every morning, slurp ramen for lunch and go to Izakaya with mates after work. This structure is the anchor of a stable society. However, as a part of this society, individual is less prompted to challenge or change a built-in and ready-made system (too comfortable to feel the need, yeah, something is missing but cannot quite tell what it is).

Japanese middle class need to have certain type of cars, wardrobe, houses and wives. Is it an attempt to be accepted by others so individual can feel secured?