Brief description of its relationship with SDG-1

Japan’s relationship with SDG 1 (No Poverty) is shaped by its long‑standing human security approach, aimed at building an inclusive society where no one is left behind. Despite being a high‑income country, Japan faces internal poverty challenges linked to an aging population, gender inequality, and the vulnerability of non‑regular workers. Internationally, Japan is a major donor and a leading promoter of poverty reduction, disaster‑risk reduction and social protection. 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In a highly developed nation like Japan, SDG 1 is measured via the relative poverty rate (the percentage of the population living on less than half of the national median disposable income). Japan’s relative poverty rate sits around 15.4%, which is among the highest for G7 nations. This means nearly one in six people in Japan lives in relative financial hardship. Because Japanese culture highly stigmatizes outward signs of poverty, relative deprivation often remains invisible. It manifests as food insecurity among single-parent households, inadequate heating/cooling, or an inability to afford higher education. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 2025)

To address these issues, Japan integrates SDG 1 into broader national strategies such as Society 5.0 and the New Form of Capitalism, focusing on technological innovation and social inclusion. Core initiatives include strengthening social‑safety nets, advancing digital inclusion through the Digital Agency, supporting SDG‑driven regional revitalization, and maintaining substantial Official Development Assistance (ODA) for global poverty reduction, disaster resilience, and human‑security projects.

LIST OF REFERENCES AND USEFUL LINKS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (n.d.). What is the SDGs? Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/sdgs/index.html

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division. (n.d.). SDG country profile: Japan. United Nations. Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/jpn

Sustainable Development Solutions Network. (2026). Japan. Sustainable Development Report 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/japan/

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (n.d.). Japan: Pushing ahead with Society 5.0 to overcome chronic social challenges. Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/japan-pushing-ahead-society-50-overcome-chronic-social-challenges

Government of Japan. (2021, November 24). Toward a new form of capitalism: Outline of the emergency proposal from the Council of New Form of Capitalism Realization. JapanGov. Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2021/11/toward_a_new_form_of_capiatalism.html

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2025). Voluntary National Review 2025: Report on the implementation of 2030 Agenda Japan. Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/sdgs/vnr/vnr2025en.html