How do future life perspective and present action work in Japanese youth development?

Abstract

Future life perspective and present action, whose interaction affects how one’s current activity affects later life, offer a critical crossroads for young adults in Japan as stable career paths have become more uncertain. Past generations benefited from stable institutional pathways, but recent generations must forge their own ways. This article reviews how Japanese undergraduate students think about their present and future and relates these thoughts to identity and career development. We compare the Japanese conception with youth purpose in the US, which includes future intention, engagement in meaningful activities and beyond-the-self contribution. The Japanese emphasize intention and engagement. But many do not feel their present– future connections are meaningful, though because Japanese culture avoids giving negative meaning to struggle, they may avoid discussing. Considering one’s impacts on others is engrained in Japanese culture as a duty that beyond-the-self contribution would not be thought of as a personal choice.

Keywords:

• Japanese youth
• future life perspective
• present action
• life purpose
• college student development

Acknowledgement

We express our gratitude to anonymous reviewers for productive comments and encouragement on an earlier draft of this article.