I think it’s because working life for the average Japanese person fucking sucks so bad that for a worrying number of Japanese folks high school was the last time they really felt happy and free and unalienated from their fellow man.

Of course this isn’t Japan-specific anymore. From my times visiting family in Korea, I’ve started picking up the same shit over there from among my family and strangers I’ve talked to.

Which also explains why quite a few Korean manwha is also tends to be escapist power-fantasies as well.