Kensuke Harada × Makoto Ogi: Part 2 "Young people don't believe in a 'rosy future'"

Continuing from last time, we present a conversation between Kensuke Harada, representative of the NPO " YouthCreate " which connects young people with politics, and Makoto Ogi of Dentsu Inc.'s Youth Research Department (Wakamon).
What can society and adults do for young people concerned about Japan's future?

 

Engage young people from a humble perspective

Ogi: I saw footage of Mr. Harada speaking as an expert witness at a House of Councillors special committee regarding the voting age being lowered to 18. I found his comment, "I want them to engage young people from a humble perspective," quite interesting.

Harada: Some might think granting 18-year-olds the right to vote was a favor bestowed upon them.
But it wasn't something 18-year-olds actively demanded, and imposing it from above is wrong. Instead, we should ask for their cooperation: "We need young people's power," "Please lend your strength for Japan's future."

Ogi: This might be a bit of a leap, but one reason cited for high youth job turnover is communication issues with superiors. They can't stand being harshly spoken to from a superior position. Regardless of whether it's right or wrong, that kind of communication might just not fit today's youth.

Harada: Education is necessary, but unilaterally imposing values and customs isn't good. Political education should target not just young people but their parents' generation too. Rather than teaching politics itself, we should first teach about society and how politics interacts within it.

Ogi: If it doesn't connect to their own lives, they just can't relate to it, right?

Harada: Take ward council elections, for example. Since it's politics about changing the "ward" society, you should start by learning about the ward's current situation. Just looking at a candidate's manifesto right off the bat won't help you understand anything.

Also, while we need people to feel they're participating in politics, we must clearly communicate that it's different from the private sector. There are too many stakeholders to run PDCA cycles as quickly as companies do, and you can't just cut out specific groups. Segments like "Our target is office ladies in their 20s" don't work; you have to consider all generations. I think it's crucial for people to understand that.

 

We want to transform politics from a detached point into a point deeply embedded in daily life

Ogi: When we started " ivote," I don't think social media was as popular as it is now. With social media now deeply integrated into young people's lives, has it become easier to get your message across?

Harada: It's convenient to instantly connect with politically engaged students nationwide. Back when we launched, we'd just gather at places packed with students and go around saying, "Hey, I'm into politics!" (laughs). While it's more efficient now that we don't need that effort, I also sense the risk of becoming a community only for students already interested in politics. Since our activities aim to reach people less interested in politics, we're careful not to end up as just an insular group.

Ogi: So you're actively involved in communities beyond just politics?

Harada: Actually, I don't go to many political gatherings. I do things like soccer or litter cleanup.

Ogi: It seems many young people today value small-scale activities within their own circles. I think that's one reason why groups doing social activities often struggle to connect with politics.

Harada: That's right. I think there's also a problem on the political side, like with government. They know they need the power of non-profits and companies, but there's a lack of proactive outreach from the political and administrative side. I think they should be visiting more youth communities and places where young people gather. That's why "YouthCreate" runs projects like "Voters Bar," where local council members and young people chat over drinks.

Ogi: Precisely because we live in an era of excessive connectivity, I find myself pondering what truly matters in our connections. Recently, outdoor festivals have surged in popularity among young people. This trend reflects a backlash against the proliferation of online connections via social media, paradoxically elevating the value of real-world interactions. Your activities, Harada-san, also focus on creating physical spaces, don't they? That aspect seems to align with the values of our time.

Harada: While I value SNS, I don't believe communication should be confined there. Communities become richer and broader by moving between real life and SNS. I want to further develop spaces that facilitate this.
Currently, YouthCreate's activities involve many events, but the ideal is for politics to permeate everyday life.

For example, regular meetings where local council members interact with young people, or opportunities to exchange opinions with politicians being incorporated into university classes. Rather than being an isolated, non-routine "floating point," we aim to make politics a "permeated point" – something that seeps into and becomes part of daily life. That's what we're striving for as an organization.

Ogi: To achieve that, we need to engage both politics/administration and young people even more, right? I see our job as deciphering the thoughts and feelings of today's youth and figuring out how to build happy relationships between young people and companies, and between young people and society. Seeing Mr. Harada propose ways for young people to engage with politics to lawmakers in the Diet, I realized that while our fields are different, the underlying sentiment is the same.

Harada: One finding from this survey was that "many young people like Japan." I think this is incredibly important. It means that, at the very least, Japan's youth possess positive energy. I believe few young people are absolutely determined never to vote; the line between voting and not voting is very close. I think opportunities to engage with politics and the methods of communication are what give that feeling just a little push.

Ogi: That's right. To draw out young people's positive feelings, it would be great if society and adults could increase communication from a lower perspective or a peer perspective.

 

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