Estimated number of babies born in Japan in 2018 drops to record low

I feel this a bit too hard. I apologize for the incoming rant.

My husband and I want another baby so much. We're getting older (early 30s, but still) and I don't want to wait too much longer if we decide to have another.

Problem is, my husband's job gets increasingly suffocating every year. He only switched jobs a few years ago because he was supposed to have a pay raise (which happened, but then they took away his bonus secretly so its much less than before), his long working hours (12 hours a day, usually 6 days a week... I almost never see him except for 5 minutes in the morning and when he's exhausted on Sunday) were supposed to only last a few months but because of 'cutbacks' (which they never SPECIFY) it's continued on for 3 years now... if it keeps going like this I don't think it's fair of me to bring a child into the world who never sees their father. It's also unfair to my husband who is an absolutely wonderful and loving father to be separated so long from his child. Honestly I think the stress of it all (god forbid) might kill him.

I've told him time and again he can quit and go back to doing what he loves, I mean I married him for him not his money, but even I know that if he cuts out of his contract that he will be blacklisted in his industry in this country and would never be able to do his dream career in the future.

It seems to me that Japan only wants more children, not more families. So many women here would love to have more children but is it really fair if it means living entirely separate lives from your spouses? They act like Japanese men don't love their children, don't want to spend time with them. If they had a healthier work/life balance then I promise this would be ever as present as any foreign counterpart. Damn this work culture. Damn this self-sacrificing work culture right to hell.

Abe goes through pledges like I go through toilet paper. But at least my toilet paper's useful at some point.

Every single word of what savethegaijin said but especially "It seems to me that Japan only wants more children, not more families."

Her experience is basically the norm and you will never hear the old boys club talking about changing that in any fundamental way. They'll bleat on about work-life balance then offer fantastic solutions like limiting OT to 100 hrs/month. The pols want more kids/wageslaves but are totally unconcerned with conditions on the ground that families face.

The great irony here is Japan has known this demographic implosion was coming for a long time but the government is incapable of doing anything about it. So now they can watch as more immigrants are welcomed into their mythologically homogeneous society to fill the shortages. Imagine being so rigid and patriarchal that the xenophobes running things are more prepared to welcome foreigners.

Stop taxing everything, especially food, and people can afford to have more than one or two children.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to stem the population decline by expanding support for child care and education.

Until Abe stops making uselesspledges he never acts on anyway, and takes measures to improve the lot of women, nothing will change. Stop treating women like second class citizens. Give girls equal footing with boys, stop this kawaii crap.

Do the opposite to the West where these countries have allowed for feminist right sand Government handouts to dominate common sense.

Yes, Japan would be far better served by keeping their women barefoot and pregnant. Men from countries even considering taking steps towards increased gender equality are obviously emasculated. As for handouts, all that kodomo teate we've been getting, cut that right off. Money to ease the average 4-5,000$ it costs to give birth here, cut. Subsidies to pay for daycare or affordable health care, cut. Yes, indeed, brilliant ideas, Andrew. They should appoint you to a committee to study this problem pronto.

Abe is going to stem population decline by “education “? Details please.

So, this must be why Abe keeps deferring the child care crisis. He is waiting for it to fix itself.

I feel this a bit too hard. I apologize for the incoming rant.

No need for apologies. You have every right to say that and I'm sure many feel the same as you.

I mean I married him for him not his money, 

I wish there were more ladies like you and vice versa. Commitment and bond is the real meaning of marriage. You both are lucky to have each other. From what you posted, you have my respect and so does your husband. That's foolish and unfair of his company to withhold money and promises from him and you.

It seems to me that Japan only wants more children, not more families. So many women here would love to have more children but is it really fair if it means living entirely separate lives from your spouses? They act like Japanese men don't love their children, don't want to spend time with them. If they had a healthier work/life balance then I promise this would be ever as present as any foreign counterpart. Damn this work culture. Damn this self-sacrificing work culture right to hell.

Yes. That is a lot of Japanese companies and working culture for you. There is a lot of separating time for these people apart from their families. I would hear this a lot from my students when I taught about jobs and careers. Some of the answers of what their parents do is "I don't know. I don't really see him much," "Oh, he's just a salaryman," and I don't know, but he wears a suit all the time." From my experience, my dad was a reporter who worked late to get his stories out. However, he always made time for us. I didn't really care how much money he made. Just seeing him and spending time with him and all of us was happiness enough. And that's what I do with my kids. I even sometimes make it to their ceremonies and performances during the day. Sometimes, I'm the only guy there. Some of the mothers tell me "Thank you" and "You are there for your kids." I tell them in my broken Japanese that "my family comes first. They are the reason why I work hard and I love them everyday." So, congratulations that you both stay by each other. That's important!

That is not bad news (for us humans, for the planet etc) in itself. Although I don't want ppl who want to have kids not to have them 'for the wrong reasons', I also think that ppl who choose to remain child-free shouldn't be ostracized/discriminated against socially, financially etc.

More ppl means more consumption, pollution, competition, bigger cities, environmental issues etc. Depopulation is actually a good thing, for the environment AND the human race itself i.e 'your' kids.

With beauracracts making policy such as adding an extra charge for pregnant women women to "encourage better treatment" even getting glasses costs more? Wasn't their a pledge to solve child care? Can't personally keep track of these multiple pledges, urges, promises. I do love the one where Shinzo said " let's make a society where everyone can shine" how is that working out? Just had my Premium Friday's worth of 10hrs work. But with the tax rise I'm placated we now are perhaps in the the future going to be proud owners of a boat with 10 planes on it. Can't be sure when as the years title is a mystery But Shinzos promised he is giving his "Urge" to help raise the birth rate by increasing the tax on everyone without children ensuring we all get so stricken non of us can afford a child.

Agree with goldorak, ever problem is due to human pressure, more people more work, to fix the environment.

If there were less Japanese, am sure the Dolphins would be happy.

Negative jcapan , am sure Andrew Crisp didn't mean the opposite to the west is barefoot, probably much more likely to have ment managed population decline, to sustainable levels like China, rather than baby bonuses like your current PM is advocating.

So, let me get this straight, you're connecting Andrew's critique of feminism and managed population decline? I ask this b/c isn't feminism or more empowered women in general usually a result of education, which in turn means lower birthrates.

I agree that managed, gradual declines in population are a good thing. Why that's relevant on a thread about Japan is beyond me. This is a nation where a precipitous decline has already begun.

If there were less Japanese, am sure the Dolphins would be happy.

And when I read something like this I suspect your talk of sustainability is really just a cover for some other animus.

Pretty sad story from save the gaijin. If his stress levels are really high thats gunna be rough.

I work over 12 a day and 6 a week but my stress levels are low and money isnt a prob, so I think that makes a big difference.

In third world countries (where I grew up) they often work really long hours, but Japan’s corporate culture is so strict and stuffing to your soul, I think it completely amplifies how bad it is.

Population decline in and of it’s self is not bad, the planet is over populated, Japan is over populated for the useable land available. What can be bad for the population involved is how that decline is managed.

From an outsiders point of view Japans work culture appears to be self defeating, overly long hours doing what? (It is always better to work smart than to work hard, more is achieved), exhausted and burned out staff are hardly optimal for the productivity of any business (and that is without taking in to account the impact on the individuals them selves and by extension society as a whole). All in all there would appear to be a complete failure of imagination and competence at a senior managerial level.

Abe wants to have women work and children raised by the STATE. Many people don't like this and decide to delay or skip having children.

Call it what it is over population.

In the seventies we used words like sustainable, but it was already too late.

@englisc aspyrgend, it's a complete failure of imagination, REASON, and competence at a senior political level.

@savethegaijin

 if he cuts out of his contract that he will be blacklisted in his industry in this country and would never be able to do his dream career in the future.

This kind of thought is typical in most of Japanese worker. You mentioned they took away your husband's bonus so he has more reason to leave his current job and find another new one. Try tell that blacklist implication that might to happen if he leave his job to any recruiter, they will find that really ridiculous.

As Jiren from DBS would say: "Owari Da!"

Trevor, I see your point but ultimately the management are in control of the company they do not need to wait upon politicians to act.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to stem the population decline by expanding support for child care and education.

As well as pregnancy tax for pregnant woman visiting Hospital?

PM Abe should introduce baby bonus and family tax credit for encouraging couples to have more children.

@sakurasuki

Thanks for the response.

He works in media, currently for the government, and they have an almost gangster like requirement for loyalty. He's the only one who can currently do his job and it would take months and months to train another to do it... if he up and left his superior (Mori in this instance, unfortunately) wouldn't leave him an inch by way of a good referral. We'll just have to push through until the end of 2020. Not sure I want to wait until then to have another child though. It's all a mess.

A rising percentage would be the Hafutsu kidz at least though. :D

Diversity!

Too many people. With less people wages can go up.

Japan is the most expensive country in the world to both have babies and also raise them. 

No, that’s incorrect.

Negative jcapan , am sure Andrew Crisp didn't mean the opposite to the west is barefoot, probably much more likely to have ment managed population decline, to sustainable levels like China, rather than baby bonuses like your current PM is advocating.

Why wait for the government to do something? My advice to young couples is go ahead and have the kids. There will never be a perfect time and you'll never regret it. Sure you will sacrifice much to do so, but you'll find joy in the process. If you've loved them and given a strong start in life they will love you back and care for you in return when you are old. A win-win for all of you.

-Dad of a happy bunch

Do the opposite to the West where these countries have allowed for feminist rights and Government handouts to dominate common sense.