Nah, your right about the shakai hoken information. BUT your trying to tell me, that no one has looked at their own paystub, or wondered why they are not paying into national pension when they file taxes each year?

Filing taxes IS mandatory, so each year, each person has to fill in information concerning national pension, salary, expenditures, etc.

Especially if that person is married, their is no doubt in my mind that the wife is educated on nenkin and what that would mean after her husband retires.

Even if someone uses a tax filing company each year, they would undoubtedly be asked about Nenkin by their advisor.

Once someone reaches the workforce, they begin to understand Nenkin requirements. Quite possible, college students might not have any idea about it, but once they start working and receive monthly pay slips (another mandatory practice in any company that you work for in Japan) they will quickly be able to understand where their money is going and should go.

I am not sure where you are getting your "research" on "the general awareness of Nenkin among 120 million people", but it does not sound in the least bit accurate.

It is common knowledge to everyone.

(source): person with brain.