Contemplating the Experience of the “Employment Ice Age” Generation

Abstract

This paper is a transcription of my oral presentation as discussant for the plenary session of the 148th Biannual Conference of JASPS entitled “The Trajectory of Youth Issues in Japan ：Their past, present, and future”, upon the request of the research planning committee of JASPS. First, I reflect on the trends in youth and youth studies until 2004. Second, my discussion focuses on the experience of the so-called “employment ice age” generation, with an emphasis on the perspective of inter-generational and intra-generational relations. Finally, my questions and comments on the three presenters of this plenary session are provided in accordance with the above-stated perspective.