Is the Struggle to Live Merely Self-Indulgence?The term "struggle to live" (ikizurasa) has become increasingly common in conversations among those of us living in modern society. Each time we hear this phrase, a certain question may cross our minds: "Isn't that just self-indulgence?" However, to state my conclusion upfront: dismissing the "struggle to live" as individual "self-indulgence" is an extremely inappropriate and irresponsible view that misses the deeper complexities of the problems our modern society faces and trivializes people's suffering. Rather, the background of this emotion involves multilayered factors beyond our imagination.Why is the word "self-indulgence" so readily used? Behind this may lie a social culture that places excessive emphasis on individual effort and personal responsibility, a latent resistance to showing weakness, and the difficulty of truly imagining others' inner suffering. However, the numbers quietly tell a story of a reality that cannot be dismissed with the word "self-indulgence."Walls That Cannot Be Easily Overcome Through Individual Effort AloneThe roots of modern "struggle to live" can first be clearly found in changes to social structure. Economic instability continues to give many people anxiety about an uncertain future. The proportion of non-regular workers in Japan has continued to rise since the early 2000s, with the reality that they already account for nearly 40% of all employees. Compared to regular employment, the income instability and constraints in terms of benefits are significant, directly leading to difficulties in life planning and becoming a mental burden on people. Furthermore, as OECD data shows, income inequality is trending upward in many member countries, with reports indicating that the top 10% earn more than nine times the bottom 10%. This kind of structural inequality becomes a wall that cannot be easily overcome through individual "effort" alone, generating deep feelings of injustice.Changes in the work environment are also factors that cannot be ignored. The acceleration of work through digitalization, the spread of performance-based systems, and long working hours place excessive pressure on people and erode their mental health. Looking at data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of workers' compensation claims for mental disorders continues to increase year after year, reaching a record high in fiscal year 2022. This is not individual "self-indulgence," but rather proof that the modern labor system itself is causing tremendous stress to people.Additionally, the dilution of community deepens the "struggle to live." As nuclear families and urbanization progress, the warm connections of region and family that were once taken for granted have thinned, and many people have come to feel isolated. One survey shows that the proportion of people, particularly among younger generations, who respond that they "feel lonely" is on an increasing trend. Humans are inherently social beings, and isolation has serious effects on mental health. This is a major challenge facing modern society and is not a problem that should be dismissed with the word "self-indulgence."The psychological pressures unique to the information society also exhaust us. Social media tends to become a place where others' "perfect" aspects are cut out and shared. Some research shows results indicating that the more time young people spend using social media, the more their self-esteem tends to decline. The pressure to constantly be compared to others and to seek approval becomes a factor that mentally corners individuals. We check our smartphones hundreds of times a day and are exposed to vast amounts of information. The average smartphone user is said to check their device several hundred times or more per day and spend several hours looking at screens, but this information overload causes decreased concentration, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, robbing us of our vitality.And the "struggle to live" is also connected to factors deeply rooted in individual psychology. In the field of clinical psychology, it is pointed out that childhood experiences and relationships with parents deeply influence self-esteem and interpersonal relationship styles in adulthood. Furthermore, people exist who, like HSPs (Highly Sensitive Persons), are born with high sensitivity and a temperament sensitive to external stimuli. They are prone to feeling stress from minor things that many people wouldn't notice, and being misunderstood by those around them as "overthinking" or "self-indulgent" can deepen their "struggle to live" even further. It is said that 15-20% of the population has HSP tendencies, making this by no means a rare characteristic. Additionally, according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data, the number of outpatients with mental disorders reached approximately 5.86 million in 2020, more than 2.5 times the number over the past 20 years. Conditions that warrant medical diagnosis, such as depression, adjustment disorders, and anxiety disorders, are absolutely not things that can be dismissed as individual "self-indulgence."We Should Not End With Merely LamentingThus, the "struggle to live" is not simply something that comes from individual laziness or lack of effort, but rather a multilayered suffering that arises as a result of complex socioeconomic factors, changes in the information environment, and individual inner characteristics and experiences intertwining. Moreover, using the word "self-indulgence" carries the danger of turning away from fundamental solutions to the problem, further isolating those affected, and raising barriers to seeking help. Japan's "culture of perseverance" and values of "you mustn't show weakness" encourage this dangerous tendency and could invite serious consequences.However, we should not end with merely lamenting this "struggle to live." Rather, calmly accepting the reality that data shows and understanding the structures and psychology behind it becomes the first step toward building a more positive society. Precisely because we live in this era, we are called upon to empathize with each other and deepen our understanding.Listening to the words of those who are suffering and accepting their emotions without denial—this is something each of us can practice. And we need to look toward social structural problems that cannot be solved through individual effort alone—such as employment stabilization, correction of income inequality, and improvement of working environments—and tackle these issues as a society as a whole. It is also essential to deepen recognition throughout society that mental health requires care just as physical health does, and to create an environment that encourages seeking professional support when necessary. Surveys by psychiatrists show results indicating that people with higher self-esteem have higher stress tolerance and higher levels of happiness, suggesting the importance of supporting oneself from within.By practicing digital detox and finding smart ways to engage with social media, we can bring tranquility to our hearts and prevent exhaustion from information overload. We should spend time nurturing deep human relationships where we meet face-to-face and connect heart-to-heart, not just superficial connections. Research results show that people who have the habit of meeting close friends once a week have higher happiness levels compared to those who don't, and the peace of mind that genuine connections bring is immeasurable.The "struggle to live" is also a universal and fundamental question posed to us in the Anthropocene, a new era in which our very way of living affects the planet. It gives us an opportunity to reexamine our way of life, the nature of our society, and our relationship with the Earth. Dismissing it with the single word "self-indulgence" is nothing other than an act of turning away from this complex reality. We should be able to stand alongside those who are suffering, face challenges together, and create a more inclusive, hope-filled future. Each time we overcome difficulties, we become stronger and wiser, step by step, and can weave truly rich lives. Hope is always in our hands.SourcesMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications: "Labour Force Survey," "White Paper on Information and Communications"OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development): Various reportsMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare: "Status of Workers' Compensation for Mental Disorders," "Patient Survey"Various survey reports from psychology and sociology research institutions (research on self-esteem, social media use, happiness, resilience, loneliness, etc.)Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Research reports on HSPÉmile Durkheim, Suicid