Magma of Solitude—A New Theory of Happiness for the Age of Individuals

Mirai Expo seeks to present a futuristic view of Japan on specific themes.
The theme for this year is “Magma of Solitude—Potent Force of Loners Accumulating in Japan.”

Introduction

• The theme focuses on changes in sei-katsu-sha who came to recognize the merits of being alone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In this connection, “solitude” refers to the desire of sei-katsu-sha to be alone or act on their own.
• The share of sei-katsu-sha who prefer being alone rose substantially in 30 years to exceed 50%, which led us to characterize Japan as a “society of loners.”
• Japan is one of the advanced “loner countries” in the world, abounding in facilities and services that allow people to spend time on their own.
• This year’s Mirai Expo digs deeper into the attitudes and behavior of sei-katsu-sha living in this “society of loners.”

Part 1
Background to the “society of loners”

• Genesis of the “society of loners”
  • Factor 1

    Changes in technology and services　→　It’s easier to reconcile individual and group behavior.

  • Factor 2

    Changes in interpersonal relationships →　Room to be alone has emerged.

  • Factor 3

    Changes in the information environment　→　Desire to be liberated from excessive connectedness has emerged.

• A brand-new question: Do people who like to be alone not like to be “together”?
  • The 30-year developments as identified by the Survey of Attitudes and Behavior of Being Alone indicate that people who prefer being alone also want to be together with their family, company and friends, which means that they are capable of freely switching between aloneness and togetherness as they see fit.
  • In short, sei-katsu-sha like to be alone but do not hate being together.
• Thus, solitude has changed from an attribute depending on marital and employment status to one of the “modes” that can be adopted by all kinds of people, hence the emergence of a “society of loners.”

Part 2
Discovery of the “magma of solitude”

• The survey results show that as many as 70% of people face obstacles to unleashing their desire to be alone.
• We call this unleashed passion for being alone accumulated throughout Japan “magma of solitude.”
• Live voices of sei-katsu-sha collected through surveys and interviews point to three major obstacles to unleashing “solitary” behavior:
  • Obstacle 1: Lack of an enabling environment
  • Obstacle 2: Lack of confidence in readiness
  • Obstacle 3: Excessive self-consciousness
• Ideas for ways businesses can address the obstacles:
  • Creating excuses for being alone
  • Creating steps to being alone
  • Creating friends for loners

Part 3
The “magma of solitude” to energize Japan

• Interview with 10 “new solitary sei-katsu-sha” who have succeeded in unleashing their desire to be alone
• Three changes in sei-katsu-sha who have unleashed their “magma of solitude”
• Impact of unleashing the “magma of solitude” on life and business