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Parasite Economy

For the last 2 weeks, it's been bargain season at Japanese department stores. I, of course, went to Ginza and did some shopping. I assume most men in the company get bored going out with their partners for shopping. I saw lots of dads and boyfriends lounging around on couches, chairs, stairs and anywhere else they could sit down at stores. They were typically half asleep or gazing dazedly at nothing in particular. On the other hand, I saw hundreds of women actively hunting for new clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, etc. It was like watching a swarm of ants working a picnic lunch...
There is no doubt in my mind that women are the key for Japan to increase its consumption rates, if only because for many of them, they have almost 100% disposable incomes. We've been hearing in the media for some time now about "parasite singles" who live with their parents, while the boyfriend pays for the dates. What a great, if not rather boring life it must be to be a parasite....
As for me, I felt guilty even buying 2 pairs of shoes, but at least I felt a little better once I realized that I was doing my bit to help the economy....

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