一いち億おく総そう中ちゅう流りゅう

noun

all-Japanese-are-middle-class mentality

A socio-economic concept from the post-war period, describing the widespread belief that most Japanese people belong to the middle class. Often used critically to point out the illusion of a classless society.

• 一いち億おく総そう中ちゅう流りゅうという意い識しきは、高こう度ど経けい済ざい成せい長ちょう期きに広ひろまった。

  The 'all-Japanese-are-middle-class' mentality spread during the period of high economic growth.

• 格かく差さが広ひろがる中なかで、一いち億おく総そう中ちゅう流りゅうはもはや神しん話わに過すぎないと言いわれる。

  As inequality widens, it is said that the idea of a universally middle-class Japan is now nothing more than a myth.