I was quite shocked when I heard it.
As of 2024:
* Japan: $34,555
* South Korea: $34,653
Taiwan is on track to take over very soon as well, currently at $34,046.
Numbers from the IMF. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
One could argue that the purchasing power parity is a more accurate comparison, as it isn’t skewed by the collapse of the yen, but still.
I have a comfortable salary by Japanese standards… which is lower than what a supermarket cashier earny in my home country. Lol.