Yoghurt delivery women combatting loneliness in Japan (bbc.com)

Article summary

In Japan, a network of women known as Yakult Ladies deliver probiotic milk drinks to people's homes, providing a vital source of routine, connection, and care, especially for the elderly. This delivery network has become an informal social safety net, helping to combat loneliness in a country with a rapidly aging population. The Yakult Ladies are self-employed and offer a friendly face, weekly check-ins, and a lifeline of human connection to their customers. The program has been in place since 1963 and has become an integral part of Japanese culture.

Main themes

• Social isolation
• Aging population
• Community care
• Informal social safety nets
• Japan's demographic challenges
• Probiotic health benefits

What commenters say

• The article appears to be a promotional piece for Yakult, with some commentators suggesting it is an ad disguised as a news story.
• The BBC's funding model is debated, with some arguing it is state-funded and others claiming it is a public broadcaster funded by the general public through the TV licence fee system.
• The economics of the Yakult Ladies' delivery system are questioned, with some suggesting it is a gig economy model that relies on low salaries and self-employment.
• The use of GDP as a measure of a country's success is criticized, with some arguing it fails to account for human flourishing and other important metrics.
• The article's portrayal of the Yakult Ladies is seen as overly positive, with some commentators suggesting it glosses over the challenges faced by the women and the broader social issues in Japan.
• The role of the BBC in promoting commercial interests is questioned, with some arguing it undermines the organization's independence and credibility.
• The concept of public funding versus state funding is discussed, with some arguing that the distinction is largely semantic and that the BBC's funding model is essentially a form of state funding.