1 in 5 Japanese university students do not want children: survey

Can’t blame them since it’s extremely difficult to bring up even a single child in this cruel world!

Sooner or later, looking at the growing gap between the very rich and the rest of society, this will happen in the US. It's lovely having a baby. I had one and it was great. But that was before the corporations decided to see how much they could suck out of the working class. Other countries have people who don't want kids because of the cost and more countries will also. It's a problem not just in Japan. Other Asian countries are also having it. In the coming two-classes countries you can expect more of this.

Hard to ask this question to college students til their life gets on track. I remember 2 of my best friends in college say they never wanted kids or even get married for that married. They are both happily married now with 3-4 kids.

In other words, 80% of university students want kids. Flip it around and it sounds completely different.

1 in 5 Japanese university students do not want children: survey

so……4 in 5 Japanese university students do want children?

and what does it even matter at this point?

Maybe they are thinking about taking a test or getting a job at the moment. since, you know, most of them are only in their early 20’s.

"There is a possibility that economic concerns are impacting their views on life," 

A possibility? Considering their fathers are likely earning less or the same as they were twenty years ago makes these kids pretty smart. Hopefully, these kids will follow through with their views and use appropriate contraception.

Rational. This country prioritizes rural and elderly. Having kids is a life sentence of stress and hardship and I should know.

For me, like many people I know, it comes down to a simple choice:

1) Have a somewhat comfortable life childless, with the ability to save some money, take a vacation etc..

2) Have kids, but always be struggling financially.

That means that 80% of college students DO want children. But the headline and the story's lead places all their attention on the minority who say they don't want kids.

Interesting to see how the media paints these things.

As for the 20% who say they don't want kids: that's what they say now. Most of them will probably see it differently a few years down the road.

As for "financial concerns," it might shock people today to know that families in past generations often consisted of multiple children -- even though they were, quite often, financially much less well off than people today.

Of course, back then they didn't have things like wide-screen TVs, two cars in the driveway, and all of the other things that are seen as "necessities" today.

Plus, this mentality that "all of the kids just have to go to college" didn't dawn on them. For most people today, college is an overpriced unnecessary racket.

Most people don't really need it to succeed in the jobs they have today. But we've been sold this lie that everyone has to go. Some people do, sure, but it's an unnecessary waste of money for most.

As for the 20% who say they don't want kids: that's what they say now. Most of them will probably see it differently a few years down the road.

Wouldn't bet my last dollar on that. I have 5 siblings, 2 are married with kids, the other 3 are in their 40's males and have NO interest in marrying even though they have decent jobs and money. My generation lived through the divorces of the 80's and 90's and learned. I wouldn't be surprised if 30% or less even end up marrying let alone having kids.

Can’t say I blame them

3/5 university students dont know how to make a piece of toast, so it comes as no surprise that they may not feel up to parenthood.

If they don't have enough money, time and energy to have a kid, society shouldn't be surprised that young adults don't want to have them. Do they honestly expect people to raise children in this economy and situation today? I mean, wages are hardly livable and life too fast-paced. Those that have kids are either blessed with the ideal resources or didn't really plan things through.

3/5 university students dont know how to make a piece of toast, so it comes as no surprise that they may not feel up to parenthood.

I'm quoting this so people can like Chabbawanga's comment twice!

Actually, not about money folks, but that's official excuse.

Parents LIKE giving their children everything, what they get in return's whole new dimension to life that's more evolved and meaningful, call it beyond self-interest.

Real problems in my view;

1) Core values, people more selfish, do not recognize that the greatest things in life are not for sale.

2) People know Japan's Galapagos culture is collapsing, Japan's GDP was +8$Trillion in a far smaller global economy, today it's 3.6$T in a far larger global economy and being propped up by massive Govt. Deficit spending, about 10% of GDP if you include BOJ $printing

3) There are no new global Japanese Corp. champions, just legacy players, Galapagos (culture capture) biz culture vs. global standards and values based

4) Success both personally & professionally addressing 1-3 above, and soon more kids will be on the way!

Time is is dearer supply than money. Kids aren't as expensive as you think, it is the distinct lack of family time that constrains people. Legally binding 40 hour work weeks for employees and a 3 week holiday every summer would be helpful.

They probably saw what they were able to earn when they graduate and thought, ain't no way I'll be able to pay off my student loans let alone get married before turning 30. Like David Brent said, it's either enjoy the beauty of child rearing but gaman on that Haagen Dazs, or enjoy eating that Haagen Dazs because you worked hard and earned it.

I'd rather see the polls for those aged 25-35 instead.

concerns about losing personal time

Your parents were willing to make sacrifices to raise you, but you're not willing to do the same. Don't complain when you're old and there's no family to care for you and no government funds to pay for others to do it.

Reproduce or fade into oblivion Japan.

I cannot imagine how empty my life would be without my kids and wife.

"As for "financial concerns," it might shock people today to know that families in past generations often consisted of multiple children -- even though they were, quite often, financially much less well off than people today.

Of course, back then they didn't have things like wide-screen TVs, two cars in the driveway, and all of the other things that are seen as "necessities" today.

Plus, this mentality that "all of the kids just have to go to college" didn't dawn on them. For most people today, college is an overpriced unnecessary racket.

Most people don't really need it to succeed in the jobs they have today. But we've been sold this lie that everyone has to go. Some people do, sure, but it's an unnecessary waste of money for most."

Education should not make us selfish but more understanding and less selfish.

Great! Let's hope they persuade others. While still more realise how burdensome kids are on the planet. Voluntary extinction is the way forward.

I don't think this is really a big deal and not really an accurate picture of reality ten or twenty years down the road. Circumstances and thinking change.

I remember being in uni and not wanting kids. Hell, a few of my friends didn't really want any either.

Many of the younger generation, myself included, 24yr old female, do not want children because of the burden of perpetual worrying, lack of financial help through not having a job that pays enough, and the sheer amount of time and energy it takes in raising children to a good standard. Personally, I could not go through all that, maybe because I am selfish, lazy, uncaring, or what ever, but I do not possess the dedication needed to raise a child

I honestly don't understand how normal people are able to have a family here, I have one kid and a house wife on a higher than average salary. All I do is work, I have one night out once every two months and that's about it for non necessary spending and I'm barely able to go around. I feel that unless you are making extreme money, taxes and everything just scales with you so it doesn't matter how much you make. Just my kokumin kenko hoken is 9man a month. I feel they need to add more tax brackets, too many super rich boomers just sitting on money, raise taxes for the super rich and make it more manageable for normal people.

Life is way more than targeting an exact number of children (or none). Nothing to do with money by the way. If so many African countries would not be ever growing then.

As Quo primum mentioned, all is in your head. Don't think too much and you will have children and willing to raise them !

That has been the case for many geological years by now and survival of the fittest will carry on... World will count on less and less Japanese in the future from now on, that is a given.

Me neither..

Less kids and more pets adoptions..

3/5 university students dont know how to make a piece of toast, so it comes as no surprise that they may not feel up to parenthood.

What's surprising is that based on that figure , 2/3 of those who don't know how to make a piece of toast still want kids

Anyway not looking good that number of those who don't want kids jumped from 13.1 % to 19.2

3/5 university students dont know how to make a piece of toast, so it comes as no surprise that they may not feel up to parenthood.

To be fair I don't know many Japanese that have ever owned a bread specific toaster, so honestly I think 3/5 is a very high number, I'm guessing 2 out of those 3 that said they could probably have never used one but just assumed they would be able to.

David BrentToday  08:55 am JST

For me, like many people I know, it comes down to a simple choice:

1) Have a somewhat comfortable life childless, with the ability to save some money, take a vacation etc..

2) Have kids, but always be struggling financially.

Maybe you can also try to increase your income by changing company, changing sector (if young enough), re training…

Of course each case is unique and I do not know your particular situation but in general I think a lot can be done to improve one’s personal situation.

my Japanese colleagues, junior or freshman, they are too busy with works, social life and getting everything start. once they grow older, only then they will be starting to think about marriage. It is not hard to get a housing loan in Japan if you have a proper job, and if both couple is working class, it will get easier. The government policy seems encouraging people to get married. Look at their daycares, kindergarten and school, i will be so burden-free if my kids grow up in their system

Just my kokumin kenko hoken is 9man a month.

This is why so many people choose to work for a company they hate over being self-employed. The fact that my company covers half my health insurance and pension costs is one of the main reasons I don't go self-employed.

Wanting to have kids and actually having kids are entirely different.

This is why so many people choose to work for a company they hate over being self-employed. The fact that my company covers half my health insurance and pension costs is one of the main reasons I don't go self-employed.

Yeah they definitely do their best to cut down on self-employed people, even worse now with the invoice system. I guess they find it easier to control people that are already used to having their lives controlled by their companies.

It’s not so much whether they want or not but if it’s possible.

The majority of jobs that are on offer are not jobs that the older Japanese had with lifelong employment, cheap housing, large bonuses, attractive retirement packages etc.

Raising children has become an economic impossibility.

The survey, conducted on students expected to graduate in 2025, showed that 19.2 percent said they do not wish to have children, a jump from 13.1 percent in last year's results, which covered students completing their studies in 2024, job website operator Mynavi Corp said.

Its suspicious that the numbers jumped so high between the class of 2024 and the class of 2025. The two cohorts are virtually identical to each other and are just a year apart in age. In the absence of some major event impacting students over the past 12 months it doesn't make much sense for one group to be about 1.5 times less likely to want to have children than the other.

Really? Only one in 5 doesn’t want, and 4 in 5 want to have children? That means japanese population will boost in near future. But i am wondering where they will be living. In Tokyo , you can’t find a place big enough to live with kids unless you can afford ridiculous price.

First things first. Most haven't had a girlfriend or a boyfriend yet, they don't even know the concept of coregulating, are still very much in that a ward finding your feet stage in life. Having kids and settling down the last thing on their mind. Surprised that 4/5 actually said yes! Wonder how much thought went into the answers ;p.

Just to be fair South Korea, China and Italy are speeding to oblivion faster than Japan; and to be fairer, I never heard anyone ever say they want to immigrate to China so immigration will not help them one bit.

this poll seems to be a joke.

as Japanese women generally only want to get married with a wallet, inflation will reduce the number of marriages and consequently children. KISHIDA ARIGATO!

Japan birth rate was in constant decline but surprisingly registered an increase from last year to now.

I have never come across a woman who was only interested in a man's 'wallet'.

I know they exist, but I'm sure they would be a small minority. I think a lot of guys who get rejected think this because they don't have mush of a wallet but I can tell you from many years of dating and marrying Japanese women that money is seldom their priority (of course, a man with no money is a bit of a challenge).

Not saying that is the only type of woman you have dated, but Japanese women that is looking to date a foreigner usually have other priorities than money. When you date someone that don't specifically have an interest in foreign guys money and work usually comes up in the conversation a lot earlier.

One in five do not want children! Not even one child!! That is 20% the population of the country !!! In 20 years Japan will become a country of old people!!!!

They might not want children, but with their very limited knowledge of contraception and family planning, many of them will end up with a little Taro or Kumiko.

A great reason, why 57.4 percent cited "a lack of confidence about raising a child. Don't have a baby if you can't raise a baby.

For people mislead by the article's title into clicking and reading it - 80 percent do want a child at some point. Don't focus on the 20 percent and their reasoning, focus on how to support the 80 percent.

opheliajadefeldtFeb. 6  12:21 pm JST

Many of the younger generation, myself included, 24yr old female, do not want children because of the burden of perpetual worrying, lack of financial help through not having a job that pays enough, and the sheer amount of time and energy it takes in raising children to a good standard. Personally, I could not go through all that, maybe because I am selfish, lazy, uncaring, or what ever, but I do not possess the dedication needed to raise a child

Honesty is so refreshing.