Is the Society of the 22nd Century a Utopia or Dystopia?

Ah, this is such a great question, and it's a topic many Doraemon fans love to discuss. In my view, the 22nd century depicted by Fujiko F. Fujio is neither a perfect utopia nor a terrifying dystopia, but rather more like a "flawed utopia."

We can examine this future society from two perspectives:

## I. Aspects that Resemble a "Utopia"

This part is the most intuitive and what we envied most as kids.

Highly Advanced Technology and Material Abundance This goes without saying; Doraemon's four-dimensional pocket is the best proof. From the "Anywhere Door" to the "Take-copter" and "Memory Bread," technology solves the vast majority of physical problems in human life. Go anywhere you want, eat anything you crave (Gourmet Tablecloth). Future department stores mail-order all kinds of miraculous gadgets, indicating productivity has reached an incredible level.
Improved Environmental Issues In some movies and short stories, we see future cities are multi-layered with abundant aerial greenery, showing significant environmental improvements. Compared to the various pollution problems of the 20th century, 22nd-century humans have clearly found a better way to coexist harmoniously with nature.
Overall Societal Peace and Comprehensive Welfare We hardly see any wars between nations in the 22nd century within the original work. Society appears quite stable, with established robot laws and the Time Patrol maintaining temporal order. Although Sewashi's family doesn't seem wealthy, basic necessities, education, and healthcare are presumably covered.

From these angles, the 22nd century seems like paradise. No wars, no pollution, immense material abundance, and technology fulfilling most wishes. This perfectly fits the definition of a utopia.

## II. The "Dystopian" Shadows Beneath the Glow

However, if you pay close attention to details in the manga and anime, you'll find this future world is far from perfect, with some aspects even being unsettling upon reflection.

Severe Class Stratification and Wealth Disparity This is the most crucial point. The story begins because Nobita's descendant, Sewashi, is very poor—so poor his New Year's money is pitifully small. His family's robot, Doraemon, is also a "defective model" who was electrocuted, performed poorly in robot school, and was only acquired cheaply at auction. What does this mean? It means that in this highly advanced 22nd century, the concept of "poverty" still exists. The wealthy can buy the latest, most powerful robots, while the poor can only afford discounted defective models. This is completely different from the "equal and prosperous for all" utopia we imagine.
Ubiquitous Surveillance and Harsh Laws The existence of the "Time Patrol" itself is a double-edged sword. On one hand, they maintain the correct timeline, but on the other, it signifies a future society with an extremely powerful surveillance system capable of law enforcement across time. Altering history is a serious crime, indicating severe restrictions on personal freedom. Doraemon is always terrified of being caught by the Time Patrol when using "out-of-line" gadgets. This feeling of "Big Brother is watching" is a classic dystopian element.
Human Degeneration and Over-Reliance on Technology Why does Sewashi send Doraemon back to the 20th century? Because he can't manage his own life and hopes to improve his future by changing his ancestor's fate. This reflects how future humans, perhaps due to excessive convenience, may have lost the spirit of solving problems independently and striving hard. The first reaction to a problem might not be "How can I work hard?" but "What gadget should I use?" This represents a kind of mental "laziness" and "degeneration."
Cold Bureaucracy When Doraemon's gadgets break, they must be sent back to the future factory for repair—a process that's very cumbersome and often involves long queues. His broken "cat ears" also remain unrepaired for various reasons. This shows that inefficient bureaucratic institutions still exist in the future society; not everything can be solved with a "one-click" miracle gadget.

## Conclusion: A More Realistic and Thought-Provoking Future

So, what is the 22nd-century society really like?

It is a society that has solved old problems but generated new ones.

It used technology to solve "classical problems" like material scarcity, environmental pollution, and large-scale wars.
But it also gave rise to "future ailments" like spiritual emptiness, class stratification, excessive regulation, and human degeneration.

Mr. Fujiko didn't paint an unrealistic "heaven" for us but depicted a very "human" future. He seems to be telling us: No matter how technology develops, the brilliance and weaknesses of human nature, the beauty and flaws of society, will likely always coexist.

This future is convenient, comfortable, and safe, but perhaps a bit boring, even somewhat oppressive. It is both our dream and a warning to us. It reminds us that while pursuing technological progress, we must never lose those most precious things: the sweat of hard work, the ability to think independently, and the courage to create happiness without relying on "cheats."