軽薄という美徳 ― 痛みに耐えられない時代｜The Virtue of Lightness: An Age Unable to Bear Pain

Modern Japan increasingly celebrates “lightness” — easy conversation, gentle humor, and the avoidance of conflict. What was once a criticism, keihaku (superficial lightness), has quietly become a social virtue. People are exhausted by heavy words: justice, responsibility, hope, commitment. Instead, they seek pleasant moods, smooth interactions, and emotional comfort. Yet this cultural preference has a cost. In spaces dominated by lightness, silence cannot grow, depth disappears, and real pain is avoided rather than shared. In this episode, we explore why lightness became a survival strategy, how it shapes communication, and why true kindness sometimes requires the courage to endure discomfort.