Addiction, Recovery, and Quality of Life in Japan

Underpinned by patriarchy and neoliberalism, gender roles in Japanese society favor men as breadwinners, allowing addictive behaviors such as excessive drinking and gambling to serve as “coping mechanisms.” The concept of “familism,” which places a strong emphasis on the family as the primary unit of society, along with the belief in “those who do not work should not eat” (neoliberal values), enforces the responsibility of addressing addiction for both individuals with addictions and their families. This dynamic creates a unique addiction system. The Japanese addiction system exhibits tolerance toward “legal” addictions like alcohol and gambling while imposing severe penalties for illegal drug use. Japan’s hierarchical society places a heavy emphasis on family and individual responsibility, resulting in issues such as overwork-related deaths (“karoushi”) being attributed to either individuals or companies. One potential solution to this system is self-led research (SLR), in which individuals with addiction issues engage in the study of their challenges alongside peers, promoting self-discovery within a horizontal network. Japanese society finds itself at a crossroads, with some addressing gaming addiction through initiatives such as “off-line camps” and harm reduction, while local governments even take steps to legislate parental responsibility concerning children’s gaming habits. The fundamental question lies in whether Japan will choose to pursue a social response that extends beyond family responsibility, or alternatively, opt to further medicalize and criminalize addiction. The authors strongly advocate for a social response that entails the decriminalization of addiction and the provision of support to those who are struggling with it.