午夜剧场

On December 15, 2020, I published a non-fiction book titled "The Civil Revolution of We" from Asahi Press. It was originally conceived as a sequel to "Hip Lifestyle Revolution," which was published by the same publisher in 2014. I had used the word "revolution" in that book to describe the changes in American consumer sentiment triggered by the 2008 financial crisis. However, as climate change grew more severe by the day, I came to feel that I had to write a book about a more fundamental system change—a true reform, not just a metaphor. I handed a manuscript to my editor in early 2020 that summarized what consumers can do now by reporting on the consumer movements that erupted like volcanoes with the start of the Trump administration, as well as the activism of Millennials and Gen Z trying to stop global warming by urging governments and companies to take proactive measures. Shortly after, the arrival of the new coronavirus caused dramatic social shifts, forcing me to rewrite the book extensively. I had hoped to release it in the summer, but the task of trying to capture a moving target was more difficult than expected, and I finally managed to publish it before the end of the first year of the 2020s.

Scientists have long warned that unknown viruses could emerge as ecosystems collapse due to climate change. This situation ended up putting a sudden brake on existing capitalism, and reforms sought by those described as progressive or far-left began to be put into practice. Policies to reduce income inequality, such as raising the minimum wage and expanding social welfare, began to be implemented. Local governments themselves began making efforts to reduce the uninsured population in order to suppress the virus.

The peculiar situation where the incumbent president refused to accept the election results revealed the divisions in America, but on the ground in administration, substantive reforms are progressing daily. I can say with confidence that the Biden administration would not have been born without the consumer movements that occurred during the four years of the Trump administration. Ultimately, what I wanted to convey is that social transformation is not only possible but essential. I hope this serves as an opportunity to think about what you can do to improve the society to which you belong.

Yumiko Sakuma

Asahi Press

232 pages, 1,500 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.