Recently I read an article: "China's AI is, why is it developing?" https://note.com/goshiaoki/n/nf872bdd900ba

The article's content is largely accurate, it can be said to be experiences gained from real-life exposure, and I want to do some in-depth supplementation on some aspects.

In China, the poverty gap is glaringly wide. Farmers sit at society’s very bottom, and the cost of vegetables is almost negligible. Cheaper than in Japan, the price of most Chinese produce is comparable to that of Japanese bean sprouts—an affordability that stems from mass production in Japan, whereas Chinese produce remains largely small‑scale and labor‑intensive.

Moving from farming to retirement is not a financial safety net; a farmer’s pension is only 120 RMB a month—less than 3 000 JPY. Coupled with limited health coverage, this underscores the precarious nature of agricultural livelihoods in China.

Those who cannot secure white‑collar roles in the cities often end up as low‑wage laborers in delivery, ride‑hailing, or temporary work, feeding the urban middle class. In first‑tier cities like Shanghai, the wage gap between Chinese and Japanese middle‑class workers is narrow, yet the city’s affordable food and services give Chinese urbanites a cost advantage, often translating into a higher standard of living than Japanese salarymen in comparable roles.

Ending up in the lowest tier in China feels devastating, fueling a constant competitive spirit—whether through unemployment or the drive to master AI. This perpetual FOMO contrasts sharply with Japanese society, where a smaller poverty gap produces less pressure and, from my view, a sort of calm anti‑intellectualism that feels strikingly peaceful.