Hankei 5-Meters (半径５メートル)

Ah... not again!

Takarako, I'm sorry I'm late. What about Shion?

She suddenly got sick and couldn't come.

Eh ~ again?

That's the second time she cancelled, isn't it?

I wonder if she doesn't want to be interviewed.

But when I emailed her for the interview, she replied "Yes" right away.

There are a lot of people who separate online from the real-life.

Alright, let's go.

Wait wait wait...Takarako!

-What? What? What? -Listen to me... listen to me.

I've just run all the way here. So, just one drink, okay?

Hey, please join me for one drink.

You've been so pushy lately!

Welcome. Do you have your order yet?

Milk tea, iced.

Yes, iced milk tea.

Yes, thank you.

It's on me.

What's wrong?

No.

I don't know what to do. We need a replacement for Shion, right?

I don't know. Now...

I think that's what I'm going to do. I'll have to look for it...

Hello.

Yes.

Anami-sensei, right?

Eh?

I'm Maeda, your student at cram school in junior high.

Fumika-chan?

Yes!

Anami-sensei, you haven't changed at all!

Fumika-chan, you've grown up so much.

I can't believe I'm meeting you again here...

Don't call me "sensei". I was a part-time cram school teacher.

Is that so?

Yeah!

I'll bring you iced milk tea right away.

Thank you.

When I was in junior high school, I was hospitalized for an injury.

When I was absent from school for a month, I couldn't keep up with my studies at all,

so I had to go to a cram school.

And... she was my teacher at that time.

Ah.

Thanks to Anami-sensei, I got average scores in all subjects.

Eh...

On the way home that day, she bought me a meat bun for my hard work!

Meat Bun!

It was really delicious.

I think I've started to enjoy studying and I like books more since then.

She's your benefactor.

That's right.

But... I can't believe Anami-sensei was a part-timer...

...I guess she couldn't get the job.

She's probably "Ice Age generation".

"Ice Age generation".

Hankei 5 Metoru

The generation that entered the workforce after the economy collapse, when society as a whole...

...had difficulty finding jobs due to the prolonged recession, is called "Ice Age generation".

The current generation in their late 30s to early 50s...

Stray dogs...?

I'm home.

Welcome back.

It's been a while since I've worked this much.

Good work.

I told you that I was wandering around Europe when I was a student.

You traveled all over the place, right?

Yes Yes.

A guy I met at that time...

...sent me an invitation to a Spanish restaurant in Tokyo.

Do you want to go with me this weekend?

I'm going! I want to go!

-Really? -YES!

Okay, I'll let him know.

Wow~ Spanish food.

What Spanish food?

Paella.

Paella! I haven't had paella in a long time.

I'm looking forward to it.

What? Are you going to write an article about stray dogs?

No, she's a single woman from the ice age generation.

Said the stray dog generation, abandoned by society.

Wow, the number of followers!

Yes, yes, yes.

3 years ago, She's laid off from the company she worked for 8 years, and still in dispute.

There are a lot of people in that generation who are still freelancers.

I heard that from the ice age generation,

Article 8: Stray dogs Have No Choice But To Die?

there are still 4 million people who're non-regular and unemployed.

It was really tough in those days.

Some applied to 100 companies and were rejected by all.

100 companies!

Yes. If you fail as a fresh-grad, it's hard to find a job later.

My college friend went to graduate school to avoid the ice age,

but still couldn't find a job.

There are a lot of people who can't get a full-time job.

Yeah.

It's more convenient for companies to have part-timers.

My daughter's school also has a lot of part-time teachers.

Even Hello Work staff are mostly part-time.

1,000 yen. Thank you.

Yes.

Just because you're a full-time doesn't mean you're good, though.

There you go, Takarako. You're too sharp.

It seems government is finally supporting the "first generation of life redesign".

Life redesign....??

That means you have to redesign your life, right?

But, you can't rewind time, right?

especially for women....

Many women can't get married or have children because their lives are not stable.

Many people who had various potentials crushed by the circumstances of society.

Oh, I think you've got a project, right?

Yesterday, I found an SNS of a single woman from Ice Age.

It has a lot of followers...

Like influencers?

Yes.

Yes. I'll try to talk and see if she'll let me cover her.

It's looking good! Nice work, Fumin.

"Hello. This is Maeda from EIDENSHA."

Maeda, you got a minute?

Yup.

The Spanish restaurant I mentioned the other day.

This is so cool! Looks delicious!

Can we meet tomorrow at 7?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I'll make a reservation.

Thank you.

It's looking good. Fumin, way to go!

No, it's not like that.

Anami-sensei?

Ah, Fumika!

Do you work near here?

Yes, I always pass by here.

How long have you been working at that restaurant?

I've been here for about 2 months.

Before that, I was working as a temp.

Temp?

What company?

Patois.

I see.

You're from Ice Age generation, right?

Yeah... that's what they say.

I didn't get a job either.

Really?

Yeah, I'm still single, so I'm free.

I've had a lot of jobs... I've even worked at a cram school.

That's how I met you, right?

That's right.

Back then, it wasn't just that I didn't know how to study.

I hated going to school because I didn't feel like I belonged there.

But you taught me until I understood.

Do you remember? Once I said, "I've had enough,"

You said, "No matter how long it takes, no matter the delay, you must never stop."

Did I say that?

Yes!

I was able to do my best with those words.

You never left anyone behind.

I don't leave anyone behind.

Yes.

I see...I've been of use for someone, right?

My place is over here.

I'm over there, so I'll say goodbye here.

Good luck with your work.

Thank you.

Ta-da! Reward for Fumika.

Yes!

Here you go.

Well done. Cheers.

It's delicious!

-Delicious? -Yup!

Don't tell anyone...

Yeah.

Shimbashi Shimin Legal Office... This is it.

What's her real name again?

"Women's LIFE"?

Yes.

I'm the stray dog.

Real name is Emiko Sugawa. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

This is Kanazaki-sensei. She specializes in labor issues.

She found my tweets about being laid off 3 years ago

and is now fighting with me.

There are many Ice Age women who have low self-esteem because

they are denied by society even though they try their best.

I see.

That's why when I find people struggling alone,

I try to give them the information they need.

I worked for the company for 8 years.

I was not allowed to use company's facilities because I was a non-regular employee,

so I had to bring a water bottle to work every day.

It's terrible.

I was asked out for a drink by a guy and I refused, he said I was too cocky for a non-regular employee.

It's too terrible.

Isn't it?

That's not all.

All the work that the employees don't want to do were sent to me,

and in 8 years I've only got a 50 yen raise!

Eh? That's terrible...

On top of that, my contract wasn't renewed, and suddenly I was asked to return my ID.

Terrible….