“If so many individuals and organizations resort to misguided actions, it is crucial to understand the underlying causes.” This thought-provoking statement appears in *Darwin’s Trap* (by Christian Rönn, published by Nikkei BP). The book argues that humans and animals alike possess an innate impulse to pursue short-term personal gain, even at the expense of the well-being of their group or society as a whole. It characterizes this as an evolutionary flaw—a “bug” deeply embedded in the process of natural selection.
Setting that aside, the fact remains that if so many individuals and organizations are engaging in misguided behavior, we must understand why. I am referring specifically to *tokuryu*—ad-hoc criminal groups formed via social media. As is well known, robberies, thefts, and specialized fraud schemes perpetrated by these groups continue unabated. While the police have launched serious investigations and are arresting suspects in rapid succession, the vast majority of those apprehended are young Japanese people.
Why do young people turn to such misguided actions, sacrificing both the well-being of society and their own futures in pursuit of short-term profit? There must be a perverse incentive at play. Despite constant warnings in the media and on social media—cautioning that “shady part-time jobs” (*yami-baito*) are dangerous and that one should not be swayed by sweet talk, even from acquaintances—young people continue to be drawn to these criminal groups. This suggests a powerful allure that stokes their desires.
Understanding that allure holds the key to solving the *tokuryu* problem.
In all likelihood, these young people harbor deep-seated dissatisfaction and distrust toward society, as well as a pessimistic outlook on the future; driven by a sense of desperation, they pursue short-term gains without regard for the consequences. What, then, are they dissatisfied with? What fuels their distrust of society? What aspects of the future make them so pessimistic? Pinpointing these specifics is the key to unraveling the perverse incentives driving this behavior. Personally, I believe that young people resonate with the fairness unique to *tokuryu*—where, regardless of age or background, one’s rewards are directly commensurate with one’s success. (Kei Kitajima)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI