[Analysis] Why do so many adults in Japan not learn? Career and life start moving with reskilling | Reskilling is now!

The difference in "learning" revealed by a comparison with Southeast Asia

"Will I be okay like this?"
"Even if I think I need to learn something, I don't know where to start."
There are by no means few adults who harbor such anxiety.
Now, the number of "adults who keep learning" is increasing around the world.
In fact, survey results show that over 90% of people in Southeast Asia continue some form of learning.
On the other hand, there is the reality that more than half of people in Japan "do not learn at all."
In this article, I will explain in an easy-to-understand way the risks of stopping learning and provide concrete tips for starting now.
When you finish reading, the seeds of change will surely have sprouted within you.

The difference in learning, told by the numbers

First, let's check the differences between Japan and Southeast Asian countries using data.

In Japan, results show that more than half of adults have not participated in any learning since becoming working professionals.
In contrast, it is clear that about 97% of adults in Vietnam and India are involved in some kind of learning activity.
This difference is larger than you might imagine.

In Japan, the percentage of people who "do nothing" regarding learning or self-improvement outside of their workplace is about 3.5 times the average of 14 APAC countries/regions (major cities).

Why do adults in Southeast Asia keep learning?

In Southeast Asian countries, adults continuing to learn is rooted as a very natural behavior.
Even without having a special awareness, many people are seen incorporating "study time" into their daily lives.
This is deeply related not only to individual motivation but also to culture and the way society is structured.
For example, in Vietnam, it is common to see parents studying alongside their children.

By showing them the figure of themselves honing skills while working, "adults who study" become familiar presences to children.

This is because learning has become a value shared by the entire family.
Another reason is that systems are in place where learning leads to higher income or makes it easier to challenge oneself in new job categories.
Because there is a tangible sense that effort leads to an improvement in life, the number of people naturally turning toward learning increases.
Such an environment acts as a support, and the following factors encourage the habit of learning.

• The mindset of seeking growth regardless of age is widely permeated

• There is a workplace environment where learning directly linked to work is easily evaluated

• Support systems for vocational education and re-education by the government and local municipalities are well-developed

• There is a strong awareness that career formation is something one seizes with one's own power

On top of this soil, a culture that supports learning throughout society is growing.
Especially in Southeast Asia, because there is a background where education and economic growth have developed in tandem, it has been accepted by many as "a means to protect oneself and one's family."
There is a sense that effort and knowledge not only expand one's own possibilities but also bring positive influence to those around them.
So, why have adults in Japan moved away from learning?
In the next chapter, I will delve into the reasons one by one.

3 reasons why Japanese adults stop learning

“I know learning is important, but I just can’t seem to get started.”
Many people feel this way.
In Japan, more than half of working adults do not engage in learning.
Why do so many adults drift away from learning?
Various factors are intricately intertwined in the background.

1. Not knowing what to learn

First, the confusion of “not knowing what to learn” is what many people feel initially.
If you cannot find something you are interested in, or if you cannot see how it will be useful in your current job, it becomes difficult to take that first step.
It is also influenced by the fact that Japanese school education has emphasized a “receptive attitude.”
As a result of becoming accustomed to passive learning rather than learning on one’s own,“studying equals something painful”is how many people feel.
This impression remains deeply rooted even after becoming an adult, and it is one of the reasons why people cannot be positive about learning.

2. The influence of Japan’s long-standing employment system

Furthermore, Japan’s long-standing employment system is also involved.
In a work style based on seniority and lifetime employment, it was thought that one could be promoted as years passed without making any effort.
As a result, the necessity of learning faded, and the number of people satisfied with maintaining the status quo increased.
In addition, an environment where “learning does not pay off immediately” also has an impact.
In workplaces where what you learn is not reflected in your salary and there are few opportunities for promotion or evaluation, it becomes difficult to maintain motivation.
There is also a deep-seated anxiety about “acting differently from those around you.”
For example, if you are seen studying, you might worry that people will suspect, “Are you planning to change jobs?”
This atmosphere unknowingly nips the buds of challenge.

3. Just not learning for no particular reason

On the other hand, many people are seen who “have no particular reason, but just remain without learning.”
They use busyness or fatigue as an excuse to lower the priority of learning.

Organizing these trends, the main reasons are as follows:

• Not knowing what to learn

• Having a negative impression of studying

• The employment system did not require learning

• A weak sense that it leads to results or evaluation

• Being concerned about the eyes of others

• Being accustomed to not learning

This background is what keeps adult learning at a distance.
However, this trend can be changed.
In the next chapter, we will introduce tips for continuing to learn without strain, even when busy.
The chance for relearning begins with a small step.

Tips for continuing to learn, even when busy

Even if you think, “I want to learn,” it is hard to find time in a daily life chased by work and family.
However, there are still people who continue to learn.
The difference may lie not in their mindset or special abilities, but in their “method.”
The first thing to be conscious of is“Why do I want to learn?”and to clearly put that feeling into words.
If you are just vaguely thinking, “I have to learn,” your motivation will not last.
“I want to change from who I am now,” “I want to apply it to my current job,” “I want to prepare for the future,” “I just want to grow”—any reason is fine.
Once your thoughts are put into words, they will turn into energy for action.

Next,not seeking perfectionis also important.
Even if you decide, “I will study for 30 minutes every day,” if you have a day you cannot do it, only guilt remains.
Rather than that, it is recommended to start with small actions, such as reading a book for just 5 minutes a day, watching one video, or learning through audio.
As you continue, the small sense of accomplishment of “I did it today too” will accumulate, and eventually, learning will become a habit.
Also, it is easier to continue if you learn while interacting with others rather than struggling alone.
If you post your learning records on social media or share your impressions of books with peers, the feeling of “I want to do it too” will naturally arise.
Connections with people provide positive stimulation for learning.

Another effective method is tovisualize your 'future self'.
Where do you want to be in one year, or three years?
If you can feel that today's learning is necessary to get closer to the image you have envisioned, the way you spend your time will also change.
Learning is not an act of sacrificing the present.
Rather, it is a warm investment in your future self.
Even if the results are not immediately visible, the time you accumulate will surely become your strength.
Even in busy days, you can continue learning without strain by incorporating the following ideas.

• Articulate your 'reasons for wanting to learn'

• Develop a small habit, starting with just 5 minutes a day

• Connect with peers or on social media to share the joy of learning

• Envision yourself a few years from now and find meaning in your actions

• Think of learning as 'future-building' that cherishes your current self

Cultivate a little bit of effortless learning time in your daily life.
That will be the first step toward expanding your future possibilities.
Next, let's look together at what happens if you stop learning.

What happens if you don't learn?

'I was too busy to learn,' and while I was putting it off, a big gap had opened up before I knew it.
You may have heard such stories somewhere.
Without realizing it, the choice not to learn can narrow your future options.
Here, let's look at what happens if you stop learning.
As the speed of change increases year by year, if you spend your time without updating your knowledge and skills, you will be left behind by the flow of society.
For example, you will increasingly find yourself unable to keep up with new tools or systems, or feeling confused about how to proceed with your work.
When that happens,you will lose confidence in your work, and it will become easier for your evaluations and results to be affected.
Also,a large gap will open up over the years between those who continue to learn and those who do not.
Especially in the field of career, those who continue to challenge themselves are more likely to seize opportunities, and differences in positions and income are more likely to occur.
Even if you think you haven't changed anything, because those around you are moving forward, you may be falling behind without realizing it.

If days go by without learning, opportunities to feel a sense of growth will also decrease.
People cultivate confidence and a positive mindset every time they can do more things.
Conversely, if you get used to an unchanging daily life, it becomes easier to lose sight of your own value.
There was a time when people were evaluated just by getting older, but now it is different.
In every generation, an attitude of continuous learning is required.
As work styles diversify, those who continue to update themselves are flexibly adapting to new environments.
On the other hand, people who have made 'not learning for no particular reason' a habit will increasingly find themselves feeling unprepared when they face change.
People who are resilient to change are those who prepare little by little on a daily basis.
That is why they can act without panicking when the time comes.
The changes that can occur by stopping learning are as follows.

• Becoming unable to adapt to changes in society and technology

• Reaching limits in career breadth and income growth

• Losing the sense of growth and becoming unable to have confidence

• The environment you thought was stable suddenly begins to waver one day

• Being unable to ride the waves of change and having fewer paths to choose from

These do not happen suddenly, but are born from the accumulation of daily 'choices not to learn'.
However, it is never too late to relearn.
In the next chapter, I will introduce how you can put learning into action.
If you start with what you can do, the future will surely begin to move.

To become the '1% who can take action'

Even if you understand the importance of learning, it is not easy to actually move.
Many of you may have had the experience of thinking, 'I'll start tomorrow,' only to realize that weeks have passed.
However, even the smallest step is the beginning of everything.
In fact, it is said that only about 1% of people actually put useful information into practice.
In other words, many people end up just 'knowing'.
However, there is no difference in ability between those who can take action and those who cannot.
If there is a difference, it is whether or not they took a small step the moment they thought, 'Let's try it'.
That is the only difference.
For example, you can start with actions like these.

• Pick up a book that interests you

• Write down themes you want to learn about in a memo

• Watch just one educational video during your break

• Share a little bit of what you learned on social media

These are all things you can start doing today.
The important thing is not to achieve grand results.
Savoring the feeling of "I did it" yourself is the driving force for continuing to learn.
Also, even actions that make you think "Is this really all it takes?" will lead to certain changes when accumulated daily.
What matters is not aiming for perfection.
Even on days when you could only study for 5 minutes, please be sure to acknowledge yourself for "having worked on it even a little bit."
Focusing on what you were able to do rather than blaming yourself leads to the next action.
Finding ways to create an environment where it is easy to learn is also effective.

It is effective to place yourself in an environment where you can always learn.

For example, connect with people who are learning, join a learning community, install one learning app, or keep a book in your bag.
Even just doing this will significantly lower the hurdles to learning.
Ultimately,the shortest path to becoming someone who can take action is to "do what you can right now."
Try incorporating the following ideas.

• Write down and visualize the things you want to do or the themes you want to learn

• Accumulate small success experiences to foster self-esteem

• Share learning with someone to sustain your motivation to learn

• Instead of "starting when you feel motivated," "start first"

• Review the people you associate with and the environment you place yourself in

Today's tiny actions will change your future self.
Next, let's think together about how to envision and nurture that future.

Your future begins with your "one step today"

You might sometimes feel, "Isn't it too late to start now?"
But it is never too late to learn.
The power to change the future resides in today's small actions.
Even from this very moment, the flow of your life will change little by little.
When starting something, people tend to think, "When I have time" or "When I'm in the mood."
However, what is truly necessary is not waiting for the perfect timing, but the feeling of "trying to do what I can now."
Even if it's just 5 minutes a day, whether or not you take that step today will make your self six months from now completely different.
Your future self is the result of your current self's accumulation.
People who have achieved something did not have special talents.
It is precisely because they repeated small choices in their daily lives and kept going that they were able to carve out their own paths.
The way to take that first step is very simple.

• Read a book for a few minutes after waking up in the morning

• Listen to audio learning during your break

• Note down "what I learned today" on your smartphone

• Search for a theme you are interested in and look it up

These casual actions will nurture your future self.
Change does not happen all at once; it accumulates quietly and surely.
There may be days when your motivation to learn fades.
When that happens, it is okay not to push yourself.
What is important is to acknowledge that you felt like starting again.
That feeling will support your next step.
There is no need to compare yourself to others.
Please acknowledge yourself for moving just a little bit further than yesterday.
That awareness will gently encourage your next action.
The future is not something that exists far away.
It is shaped little by little by how you live today.
Why not take a step toward the future starting from this very moment?
The one who creates the next version of you is surely the you of today.

Summary | It is never too late to learn

If you have read this far, you must already have the desire to change something in your heart.
Learning is not for the sake of being evaluated by others, but something you continue for your own sake.
And it is never too late to start.
In many Southeast Asian countries, adults continue to learn as a matter of course.
They have naturally acquired an attitude of learning as a means to improve their lives and careers.
On the other hand, in Japan, many people still feel that learning ends in their student days and are chased by their daily routines.
However,the moment you think you want to learn is your starting point.
The important thing is not to start with difficult things.
Looking up something you are even slightly interested in, or opening a book to just one page—taking action on what you can do is the most important step.
Even if you have not had a habit of learning until now, there is no need to worry.
What matters is what kind of life you choose to live from now on.

You can spend your time just like you did until yesterday, but if you want to change your future self even a little, why not start with what you can do now?
Anyone can just think about it. The people who can change are those who can become the 1% who turn their thoughts into action.
What you gain through learning is not just knowledge.
Trust in yourself and a sense of being able to move forward will grow along with it.
Even if it is a small change, the accumulation of those changes will surely bring a certain light to your life.
Now, the step you take today will gently support your future self.
Let's start with what you can do now.