The Potential of NEETs

[tonyyao82]

I would like to share an entry I wrote on the potential of NEETs, based on watching the series as a whole.

http://www.mangatherapy.com/post/1423933181/eden-of-the-east

Do you think the series is trying to encourage NEETs and/or attacking Japan for trying to "force" NEETs (instead of sympathizing) to do something with their lives?

Comments

[gwiffen]

Director Kamiyama actually spoke on his motivations for creating the series at Anime Expo. Anime News Network covered the Eden of the East focus panel and has a good summary of what was said. Your points seem to coincide fairly well with Kamiyama's as it were.

[tonyyao82]

Thank you for the link!

I just watched the series very recently, but I can see what Kamiyama was trying to convey. It sounds like he sees the true potential of NEETs.

I think that NEETs may have certain skill sets that are applicable in today's world. Maybe I'm just a huge believer of how the Internet gives people opportunities to make themselves important if they have the motivation to do so.

[spicy_diamond]

Personally, it seemed to me like Eden of the East was attacking the embedded 'regime' of Japan. The old politicians so set in their ways and comforts that they were letting the country stagnate rather than grow or expand. Old, cheap, and corrupt. (Remember how Takizawa buys off the Prime Minister's comment for the equivalent of pennies on the dollar?)

The NEETS are stuck in limbo as well. Even if they wanted to contribute, no one's really wanting to hire them. They're 'young and inexperienced'. (As demonstrated by Saki's horrible job interview.) The economy isn't moving and they're basically generation that's being shoved aside.

Complacency breeds contempt. Without an influx of ideas and change any country is as good as dead. So, while I think you're right about Takizawa in essence winning the game by saving the NEETs and helping them move forward, I don't think that's the whole of the story.

[tonyyao82]

I do agree that there needs to be an influx of ideas and that NEETs might have the ability to provide that influx. Can't ignore the possibilities.