It's curious how poor people enthusiastically support the wealthy.
In Japan, those who become so impoverished that they give up living their own lives have no tomorrow.
Some members of the parliament, reluctant to provide a 40,000 yen stimulus to the citizens, engage in creating a hidden fund exceeding 10 million yen through "kickbacks" from party ticket revenues, making one want to say, "Enough with the nonsense."
Upon seeing the news of the Angels' Shohei Ohtani transferring to the Dodgers for 100 billion yen, it's disheartening to pity the parliamentarians scrambling to collect money.
Furthermore, the average annual income of over 4 million yen for ordinary citizens seems painfully insignificant compared to Shohei Ohtani, making them feel like mere insects.
Despite their poverty, the Japanese seem to adore sports players, entertainers, and celebrities who receive enormous rewards, even supporting them wholeheartedly, a phenomenon that's difficult to comprehend.
Even when told, "The other person is incredibly wealthy," they seem deaf to such warnings.
It appears that Japanese people are overly indifferent to financial matters, often becoming prey to the whims of the wealthy elite.
Especially in their youth, they might think they could become part of the wealthy elite and casually support sports players, entertainers, and celebrities.
In the past, I was scolded by my father for spending money on Beatles records, with him reminding me, "It's not the Beatles supporting you; it's me."
Upon becoming independent and earning my own living, I came to understand my father's feelings at the time. Money doesn't fall from the sky; instead, seeing the disappointment in the meager take-home pay after deductions for income tax, residence tax, social insurance premiums, etc., from hard-earned wages is disheartening.
In a capitalist society, the poor must compete with the rich to become part of the elite, yet these same poor individuals earnestly support their wealthy competitors.
It seems as if the Japanese have become so impoverished that, unknowingly, they have given up on living their own lives.
At this rate, Japan may be swallowed by the greedy and distorted values of American capitalism that places a staggering 100 billion yen price tag on a single sports player.
