Public health and capitalism in Japan: The impact of labour market challenges and welfare on public health

Attempts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national governments to provide direction on public health have been affected by the socio-economic institutions present in different countries. The different national models of capitalism that are in place in different countries have had an impact upon the capacities of these countries to deal with public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter introduces the relationship between public health and national models of capitalism by looking at the case of Japan, and argues that the problems faced by people as a result of Japan’s neoliberalized labour market and welfare system have created a number of obstacles to the successful management of the pandemic.