wealthy Japanese?

I was told that there is not a great difference between the average Japanese and the wealthy Japanese (not like the huge difference in America), is that true?

If so, where do the wealthy Japanese live in Tokyo? Or are they like the wealthy Americans who prefer mountains and countries over crowded city?

japanese used to pride themselves on their huge "middle class". recently the gap between the haves and have nots is growing.
of course there have always been the rich and poor, but as you alluded to, by western standards, a very rich person may still live in a fairly humble house. actually this house will still be in the many millions of dollars price range due to land scarcity.

the new rich have opted for apartments. recently "roppongi hills" is popular. the expensive houses are around daikan yama and jiyugaoka - to the south west of tokyo.

that' my 2 cents worth at least...

There are phenomenally wealthy people in Japan and there are homeless people, so I would say the divide is pretty big. There are probably fewer people living in poverty though than many other countries. Wealthy people in Tokyo live in areas like Akasaka, Setagaya, and Azabu, with holiday houses in places like Karuizawa (Nagano) and Nasu (Tochigi).

What the OP says is, or at least was, true to a certain extent, especially during the 1960s to the 90s.

One major reason is because the wealthier you are, the higher your taxes. In particular, inheritance tax is so high that most mansions are doomed to be rebuilt either into apartments or parks or public buildings.

Another reason is because wages were and still often are decided depending on how long you've served for the company rather than what your indivisual skills are. And if the company is stable, no one got fired.

Education has been another factor. School education was based on teaching the same level to all students, rather than encouraging a handful of geniuses leaving behind those with low grades. Also, although compulsory education is only up to junior high, senior high education and even college education had become so common that the society expects you to have obtained it. Therefore, in order to live properly, students were forced to study seriously at one point or another in order to catch up with the un-compulsory higher education.

But all that is changing now. Tax systems and realestate issues have been changing from time to time in the recent years. Education is more flexible now creating great differences in academic levels as well as acknowledging those who choose not to attend school.

But the great rich always did exist, especially in the freelance field. Reknowned musician Tetsuya Komuro, who was just bailed from being arrested for fraud, had realestates here and there including a grand house in southern California, and was spending huge amounts of money each day and night until he couldn't handle it. And the poor, too, always existed. Especially now that the economy is rapidly getting low, enterprises like Isuzu and Canon are firing hundreds of people who will have no place to live, and the union is working to save them.

Very rich living in fairly humble houses? In Japan as in other countries there are apartments around 5000 sq.feet(not including balconies or decks), Houses bigger than that and with fairly extensive grounds. Of course the true measure of wealth, as in any country, is having full time maids,a cook, a chauffeur etc. not to mention having several homes around the world. At the same time wealthy people in Japan as everywhere else are discrete and don't flash their wealth.

"Of course the true measure of wealth, as in any country, is having full time maids,a cook, a chauffeur etc. not to mention having several homes around the world. At the same time wealthy people in Japan as everywhere else are discrete and don't flash their wealth."

Really? I wouldn't mention his name, but I know a Japanese guy who doesn't have a chauffeur, nor probably full time maids, nor a cook, nor homes abroad, but went out night after night with his entourage, taking taxis, and spending ten thousands of yens per night at Ginza and Shinjuku.

Actually, I don't really think that the majority of wealthy people have drivers and are discrete. It pretty much depends on your occupation.

Btw, in Tokyo, the rich have always been known to have lived in Denenchofu.