Japan births hit all-time low in 2022; below 800,000 for 1st time

Not necessarily a bad thing.

A lower population = less strain on infrastructure, a cleaner, quieter environment - and more resources and space for everyone.

Most likely due to less socialising because of young people scared by the media hype about Covid, when in fact the risk was minimal. Another sad effect of the poor policies made by the government. One size fits all is immature and regressive.

"Most likely due to the economic policies providing low wage jobs and concentrating wealth at the top promoted by the government Ministries blaming it on introverted youth. Another sad effect of the poor policies made by the government."

Fixed it for you.

Not necessarily a bad thing. 

A lower population = less strain on infrastructure, a cleaner, quieter environment - and more resources and space for everyone.

Except that the problem isn’t Japan having a lower population, its Japan having an older population. An aging society is one that produces less while at the same time sucking up more resources even if there are fewer mouths to feed. This is not going to lead to a bonanza of abundance as you seem to think.

Stephen J. Shaw's research indicates that most childless couples end up so accidentally, having postponed finding a partner and having kids until it was simply too late. For those interested, part one of his three part documentary, Birthgap, is available on YouTube.

Probably my imagination but it seems like there is an article about declining births every 3 or 4 months here talking about the decline.

I think people here get it!

Over the past two decades, the government has created millions of temp jobs to cut back on wages so that corporations can pay bigger dividends to their shareholders. You cannot get married and have children on a 200,000 yen monthly income.

Let's see how far they kick this can down the road this time.

Probably my imagination but it seems like there is an article about declining births every 3 or 4 months here talking about the decline. 

I think people here get it!

Given that its among the biggest threats to the long term well being of Japanese society and an issue that directly affects everyone living here in a multitude of ways, I’m totally fine with reading articles about it every 3 or 4 months. Way better than reading about celebrity scandals on a daily basis.

Nothing to worry about, the government just approved a budget to deal with this pressing problem by dedicating more money to military spending. (?)

You can’t make people work more, and increase social encounters. Sitting at the same seat with the same boring people isn’t going to help any falling birth rate. Financial instability is part of it, so give them permanent contracts, and stop pushing everyone’s salary down, so instead of feeling great everyone feels like the big brown thing. Cause they’ve gotta work overtime to make up for the rubbish salary. I propose a secret immigration policy, where we secretly let in immigrant workers, and allow them to quietly stay, quietly have children, to quietly reduce the speed of decline and in rest tax revenues because this really hasn’t anything to do with a decline if birth rate but decline tax revenues and an increasing older population. Cough cough tax burden. Cough cough.

It’s easy to contradict all so far argumentation or named reasons. Economic reasons and child care, on other continents they have less income and no child care system but a lot more childbirths per woman. The masking due to corona, the internet and TV is full of nice unmasked potential partners you only need to call or write a letter or mail to. No, it surely is something else, something like less love and romance after bad experiences or being told that one half is only happy when marrying a cute super idol and the other half only happy when the potential partner has the biggest bank book in town. Yes, something like that or a combination of it, lack of romance and wrong love intentions.

In my part of Japan, the only people I see around me having kids are the very people who can least afford kids.

Lifestyle changes resulting from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a growing trend of people marrying later in life or not marrying at all are thought to have exacerbated the declining birthrate.

Ya think?

"Many complex factors are involved, including financial instability among young people and less social encounters," an official of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said.

So it's not due to their romantic ability declining like Narise Ishida said??

"Women in particular are less willing to have children," Fujinami said. "Along with the economic and employment environment, the issue of the gender gap, which puts a heavy burden on women in areas like child-rearing, should be improved."

Blah blah blah... all talk and no action. They have already identified the problems like economic issues and the gender gap. So what are they planning to do about it?

Exactly. Crickets.

How sad. Children are the future, are a blessing and keep society young and happy. It's worth investing in children no matter what the cost. Governments and economists are very well aware that unless you hit at least the replacement rate your country will die. Reproduce or perish.

Fighto! - Not necessarily a bad thing.

Yes, it is a bad thing for quite a few reasons. The main reason being the pension scam. There will be too few workers to support the next generation of retirees. At present people are only getting around 20% return on the money they put into the scam. If the workforce decreases as retirees increase it will spell financial ruin for the already failed system. Then consider schooling. Most schools only have around 60% of the students they had 40 years ago. If this decreases many schools will be forced to close putting a huge burden on parents with kids who will have to travel distances to get their kids to school. There is also the large amount of unemployed teachers to consider. After all that it will result in shrinking workforce which will be a disaster for Japanese manufacturing. The outlook for Japan is bleak.

Every developed country is having exactly the same problem. Just take a look at France.

Baby bust? France sees historic drop in birth rate

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/french-connections/20230223-baby-bust-france-sees-historic-drop-in-birth-rate

 After all that it will result in shrinking workforce which will be a disaster for Japanese manufacturing. The outlook for Japan is bleak.

I guess you never heard robots and AI.

Having kids in Japan these days is a MAJOR task and obstacle so many mothers and parents. It's so demanding more than any other event in their lives, many choose to just go on without kids.

From day care hassles to elementary, middle, and H.S school demands and rules, young mothers and couples will have to give up the best times of their young lives for that child and many refuse to do it, and I don't blame them.

Every developed country is having exactly the same problem. Just take a look at France.

France isn't a good example, its still got a much higher birth rate than Japan. Even with the reduced number of children born noted in that report you linked to, the number of babies born in France last year (723,000) was almost the same as the number born in Japan (799,000) despite France having only about half the population of Japan.

South Korea's situation in contrast is quite scary, their birth rate has fallen off the charts completely and makes Japan's look high in comparison.

 So what are they planning to do about it?

What are they planning to do about it in the West? Allow 10 million from the middle east. How did that work out?

Just give us one or two reasons why Japan needs more kids, instead of crying about a declining birth rate about crying about all the struggling and frustrated parents who are raising the already born kids for a change!!

What are they planning to do about it in the West? Allow 10 million from the middle east. How did that work out?

worked out BETTER than Japan.

South Korea's situation in contrast is quite scary, their birth rate has fallen off the charts completely and makes Japan's look high in comparison.

Very true, but unlike Japan, since 2008, they've started to accept immigrants AND dual citizenship, so they'll be ok in the long run. Japan is up crap creek without a paddle. And the pandemic has made things worse in dropping the birthrate even more AND increasing the racism and xenophobia that already existed here before.

Life is what you make it. A whole generation of Japanese, for a variety of 'good' reasons didn't have on average more than one or two children, many had none. Now they are paying the price in various ways.

-Economic collapse

-Greying society

-Massive burdens too heavy to bear placed on the few children that were born (caring for the elderly, taxation, etc )

Be fruitful and multiply and have a happy life and children to care for you in your old age.

They need to bring in more migrants. Otherwise the pension system will collapse. It's failing right now. The payouts have performed below expectations.

Just give us one or two reasons why Japan needs more kids, instead of crying about a declining birth rate about crying about all the struggling and frustrated parents who are raising the already born kids for a change!!

Our pensions and retirement. Without more future tax payers we will have to work until we are 80 and never enjoy a decent retirement package.

The depopulation of the countryside. Japan is already empty. It is not all like Tokyo and Yokohama. Without enough young people, we simply will not be able to repopulate the countryside.

Food security. The average age of the farmer and fisherman is up in the 60s if I'm not mistaken. These jobs are difficult and require physical labor which is something the elderly can't keep doing. We need young people for that.

Taxes. We need more children to become future taxpayers. Without future tax payers we won't have the money to provide social services we all currently enjoy. We can't fix our roads, and staff our hospitals, restaurants, bars, etc.

Consumption. An economy works when people consume. The elderly generally do not consume as much as younger people. They're not the ones buying the new houses, smartphones, etc.

National security. Without young people, we will not have a staff of SDF to protect Japan.

As Japan ages, it's economy will stagnate. This will diminish it's political clout on the international stage.

It's Covid-driven, but 5% is a big drop in one year. Apart from that, the story is just continuation of a trend, and not really news. With the recent rise in the cost of living, strong recovery post-Covid strikes me as even more unlikely.

Just on the subject of Japan and aging, Japanese seniors are healthy, so the high percentage of elderly may not be the strain on the health system you may see in countries with high obesity rates and heart disease. Yes, Japanese seniors go to the doctors a lot, but dispensing a few tablets for sciatica is way way cheaper than a quadruple bypass on someone whose cholesterol is through the roof.

Seniors who are long-lived though will continue to draw pensions, and the strain in Japan may be there on the pension system, not on health or social care.

Very true, but unlike Japan, since 2008, they've started to accept immigrants AND dual citizenship, so they'll be ok in the long run. Japan is up crap creek without a paddle. And the pandemic has made things worse in dropping the birthrate even more AND increasing the racism and xenophobia that already existed here before.

Its a good point that South Korea is way ahead of Japan in terms of immigration reform, and I think Japan could learn quite a bit from looking at what South Korea has done with dual citizenship and other measures.

But I think the numbers still work against South Korea - they are attracting more immigrants but not enough to make up for its ridiculously low birth rate (about 0.80 last year, compared to 1.3 in Japan). The total number of foreign residents in South Korea is about the same as Japan (though they make up a bigger percentage of the population there), and I think Japan will eventually be forced by circumstances to open its system up much more to immigration than it does now. Plus the xenophobia issues that Japan has seem to be equally prevalent there.

Aly Rustom

Our neck of the seaside/countryside is not depopulated and there are very few empty houses. Many new homes are constantly being constructed. There are healthy numbers of young children with 12 schools within reach of our home. Not unusual for young families to have 3-4 children.

Our neck of the seaside/countryside is not depopulated and there are very few empty houses. Many new homes are constantly being constructed. There are healthy numbers of young children with 12 schools within reach of our home. Not unusual for young families to have 3-4 children.

That's good news. I'm happy for you. Maybe there is some hope yet. The house next to mine is an Akiya, and there are no less than 10 Akiya near my house. I just pray we never have to deal with a hornet's nest there.

Aly Rustom

If you remain in Japan you will need to save ¥20 million plus to prop up your pension regardless.

We don't have any of those old abandoned falling-down houses. We don't have high-rise apartments. We do have roads and roads of houses with tidy beautiful gardens and clean streets. The streets fill up with the sound of children after school is out.

Its a good point that South Korea is way ahead of Japan in terms of immigration reform, and I think Japan could learn quite a bit from looking at what South Korea has done with dual citizenship and other measures.

agree.

But I think the numbers still work against South Korea - they are attracting more immigrants but not enough to make up for its ridiculously low birth rate (about 0.80 last year, compared to 1.3 in Japan).

I really don't know the situation there to be perfectly honest, but they do strike me as being far more open minded and pragmatic than the Japanese.

The total number of foreign residents in South Korea is about the same as Japan (though they make up a bigger percentage of the population there), and I think Japan will eventually be forced by circumstances to open its system up much more to immigration than it does now.

The issue is, if they wait too long, with such a geriatric population, who will want to come here? It's safe to say that few people want to come and work here already given that the gov couldn't even get enough people to come a few years ago when Abe eased restrictions.

Plus the xenophobia issues that Japan has seem to be equally prevalent there.

Wouldn't surprise me.

If you remain in Japan you will need to save ¥20 million plus to prop up your pension regardless.

Assuming we will have a pension of course.

We don't have any of those old abandoned falling-down houses. We don't have high-rise apartments. We do have roads and roads of houses with tidy beautiful gardens and clean streets. The streets fill up with the sound of children after school is out.

Sounds like bliss where you live. You made the right choice.

Japan has four major problems right now:

-Generally low wages

-Collapsing pension system

-High taxes

-Inflation

To summarize, in this country you don't make very much money, but the government takes nearly all of it, and what you have left over is perpetually decreasing in value.

At this point, you might as well consider anything you pay into the pension system to be an additional tax of which you will never see the benefit of. Social security as a philosophy ended up being a huge societal error.

Covid related spending has also been a disaster and carried on way too long here. The benefits obtained clearly were not worth the cost.

Decreasing population is compounding all of these problems.

Dunno about everyone else, but I am going to look into precious metals, preferred stock, some crypto, other reliable assets. I think if you don't have disposable income, getting to a place where you do is preferable, then investing your money from there, not saving it. Most investments are less risky than fiat currency at this point.

Yeah the pension system is going to be a huge problem down the road. But the Japanese love to pretend like everything is fine here. Ohh and please remember to wear a mask. LoL

How about ending forced retirement? There are people who like their jobs and who do well at theirs jobs and who want to keep working.

Aly Rustom

It took two years of searching to find this place. No foreigners and no tourists. Young children are the gems to hold and cherish. Many will stop for a short chat before moving on.

this is direct and significant result of LDP family spport policies/there are NONE/.

people have no money to grow kids.they need to take in consideration living costs/rent,mortgage,etc etc/going up everytime while income remains same or even less/most cases/.there is no extra cash in invest in more than one kid as to have two kids costs for school etc will be double/or even more/.

LDP have money for dentsu,"olympics",vaccines,moonies,LDP "projects",new US weapons but have no money for young families with kids-future taxpayers.

if government is not willing invest money in new taxpayers all results with low birthrate and declining of population.than there are many consequences caused.

Eastman- well said.

The problem with the pension scheme Japan has in place is for it to work effectively it needs a large working population. This is not happening in Japan. The reverse is happening. More migrants need to come in . An increasing elderly population means health care costs will go up considerably in the future.

Basically...Its to expensive to have children in Japan.....Full stop. ( or ' period ' as americans say ).

Fallen on mostly deaf ears. Have not heard a single Japanese person in my circle discuss this issue. Most people are mildly concerned at best and the people over 60 know they won't be around long enough for it to truly affect them.

Fighto!

Not necessarily a bad thing.

A lower population = less strain on infrastructure, a cleaner, quieter environment - and more resources and space for everyone.

Well yes, but if it sinks to zero, there is nobody to enjoy that infrastructure and environment. What the government should aim for is a stable population, not a shrinking one.

How about major corporations offering high quality onsite daycare for their employees?

Best remark Mocheake.

Japanese don't care.

My Japanese family don't care.

No politician cares much.

Prices for families are same as for singles : pay per head most of the time.

What did you expect ?

Large parties exist. You all but socialize in reality.

Love and romance is all material only out here, Valentine's day being the epitome model where real feelings have disappeared.

Starting to see more videos pop up on youtube where they showcase families that spend very minimal on groceries and setsuyaku on pretty much anything they can just to raise a child. If everyone had the capacity to pull through something like this, then raising a child is one of the most cherish able accomplishments you can do in life. But I don't blame those that think they don't have the capacity, especially if they are earning poverty wages for busting their ***.

Given that its among the biggest threats to the long term well being of Japanese society and an issue that directly affects everyone living here in a multitude of ways,

Actually it's a phantom problem created by the government. For the size of Japan, it's lack of natural resources, and inability to be self sufficient, there is no plausible reason, other than keeping the taxes rolling in, for Japan to have a country with over 120 Million people.

The government keeps crying doom and gloom, because of the aging society, but the real reason is to keep a stable tax income to keep funding social welfare, defense, and the government employee apparatus.

Fabulous news for this vastly overpopulated and precious planet. We could do with a huge decline in the human population, and we need to live simpler more fulfilling lives than the failed all-out consumerist model of supposed infinite economic growth on a finite sized planet.

Lots of excellent points made above, mostly referring to the long term factors which the government continues to fail to meaningfully tackle. As it has been doing for decades. At least it's consistent.

But I'm surprised that the article didn't even mention the very obvious point that many many couples have decided to put off starting a family because the increased risk to the health of the pregnant mother and the unborn child from Covid. It's only common sense. But whether there will be a bounce back once the Covid risk finally recedes (which it hasn't yet - even with lower reporting of Covid, there were 67 deaths yesterday - higher than nearly any day in 2020 or 2021) seems unlikely to me, for all the other long-term reasons everyone has mentioned.

1/3 of Japanese women are childless. It's quite a shocking statistic.

The government keeps crying doom and gloom, because of the aging society, but the real reason is to keep a stable tax income to keep funding social welfare, defense, and the government employee apparatus.

Oh couldn't agree more. This is clearly just a scam to foist things like hospitals, schools, police departments, firefighters, public transportation, roads, and other silly things we clearly don't need onto society. Definitely we don't need any of that, nor do we need a functioning government capable of sustainably financing them either.

And if you think the public sector is bad, the private sector is even worse. Farmers? Truck drivers? Engineers? Doctors? Nurses? Teachers? Nope, don't need them, nor do we need any people to buy stuff or engage in any sort of economic activity whatsoever. Total scam with them too trying to convince us that we need people who can actually work and do things. This country will be better - WAY better - when everyone is over 70 and the last remaining humans here can breathe a sigh of relief at having been saved from this stupid scam of having a government and economy. Think of all the open space they'll have to enjoy. So much room to stretch out on the trains that don't run anymore. No more lineups at the shopping malls that have all closed down. Empty hospital beds galore! Those beds will be in abandoned buildings, but still! It'll be so great!

What's never revealed are recent change in baby/birth counting policies in Japan, specifically:

1) Count INCLUDES babies born to foreigners in Japan, not Japanese citizens, far over 95% will not remain in Japan beyond their work 'rotation' here.

Though exact numbers not available, foreigners in Japan for work reasons have babies at MUCH higher rate than blended national average of 7.1/1000 people in Japan or 0.071%, about five to six times actually if you believe the actuaries, makes sense as they're usually 20s'/30's/40's, do the math, but given about 2M foreigners, it's approx. 70k to 85k or about 10% of total official 'baby count'.

2) Count INCLUDES babies born to Japanese couples or couples with ONE Japanese citizen living ANYWHERE abroad. This number's harder to calculate, what I can tell you is all my Japanese 'brain' drain friends having kids abroad are annoyed they're having to deal with this paperwork, most do not intend to return to Japan etc. It's certainly far more than 10K but probably less than 100k, so I'd guess the midpoint!

3) Keep in mind the baby count historically NEVER included these two categories of babies above and these changes only took place recently, not sure of exact year but sometime within last 5 years I'm told.

Conclusion? Number of 'apples' to 'apples' babies in 2022 relative the past is far worse than headline number, certainly somewhere b/w 600k and 700k and nowhere near the official number of almost 800k, which is inflated due to #1 and #2 above. Keep in mind post WWII, late 1940s, babies born in Japan to Japanese parents peaked at about 2.8M/Yr., about +4x MORE!!!

Same game's taking place with deaths in Japan, only this time they don't count Foreigners! Bottom line is depopulation, due to fewer babies and more deaths VERY CONSERVATIVELY accelerated 20% in 2022 relative to 2021.

Guess what? Depopulation will accelerate in 2023 vs. 2022, because of time lag in 'excess' deaths showing up due to impact of Covid infection, plus the fewer older people on average that remain in Japan are not likely to have more babies, I'd estimate minimum of 30% increase in depopulation rate this year relative to 2022...., probably it'll be +50% if you do the math!

People clearly don't believe in Japan's future, that's why they're leaving and/or not having babies, so public policy question is WHY? Having kids is the toughest, most rewarding and important job of all!

Kids important for Gaijins especially, immigrants everywhere have more kids than general population, huge benefits in terms of status, trust, acceptance, etc. For Japanese, seems clear many don't see or value the benefits, too much of a logic or cost/benefit analysis, not so much 'best things in life are not for sale' philosophy...

Though exact numbers not available, foreigners in Japan for work reasons have babies at MUCH higher rate than blended national average of 7.1/1000 people in Japan or 0.071%, about five to six times actually if you believe the actuaries, makes sense as they're usually 20s'/30's/40's, do the math, but given about 2M foreigners, it's approx. 70k to 85k or about 10% of total official 'baby count'.

Sounds a bit suspicious. Where are you getting these numbers?

It's worth noting GOVERNMENT is taking over, especially ownership of assets (BOJ balance sheet) because of lack of babies/de-population.

People are scared to have kids and companies scared to invest because since the bubble's collapse Japan's been an economic failure in terms of productivity, new company formation, technological innovation, etc.

The other side to this ongoing baby 'bust' is deflation, especially falling land prices, everything's connected, economics and competitiveness clearly weigh on investment sentiment, whether it's having kids, buying a house or new company formation etc.

Nobody thinks or wants endless growth, successful societies eg. Northern Europe find a sustainable model, that's what Japan's been missing, really post WW II, because the massive bubble that built up until 1990 was hardly sustainable as well. Kids or lack of them just reflects the underlying economic problems everywhere...

Northern European countries are making extensive use of IVF/freezing eggs. Why you ask?

Because most young couples or adults don't want kids. Average age of first time Mom in Stockholm you ask? 39

Close relative of mine who'll remain secret, Stanford MD, had her last kid at 51 using above strategy! This activity's all around me and more mature parents with resources with less desire to 'go out' are better parents on all fronts

Solutions are there for kids, like everything it'll mean more utilization of tech and Govt. policy to support such efforts because perishing's not a good option!

I see many comments about poverty in japan. Are you kidding me? Japanese are all very rich. I have been looking for a high end nice hotel vacation for school holiday, and all of them fully booked 2 months ahead. The reason for low child birth is that couples sleep with others outside marriage so they can’t make a child. The known rate maybe around 35%, the reality is around 100% with 1% error chance. There is no family and values in japan as in other countries.

How many babies and children presently in orphanages in Japan?

How many single mothers who were married and their husbands up and left starting new lives and who are not paying any type of child support?

Child support is made difficult to collect and the Courts allow the man to keep 90 percent of their pay while the mother struggles. Women talk, and single women hear of the struggles of these single women and don't want to be struggling raising a child single handedly.

The number of births will continue downwards this year, guaranteed.

The reason for low child birth is that couples sleep with others outside marriage so they can’t make a child. The known rate maybe around 35%, the reality is around 100% with 1% error chance. There is no family and values in japan as in other countries.

So what you are saying is that the reason people aren't having babies in Japan is because everyone is so busy having sex with so many other people?

Do you fully understand how babies are made in the first place?

Also worth noting people have been living longer and longer, so it only makes sense to delay having kids if possible. Turn of 19th century, life expectancy of the average American was only 47, by 2019 it was about 80

People may have to rethink things regarding marriage and kids given Covid-19's huge impact on life expectancy, excess death rapidly growing for those infected, please search Lancet medical journal UK

One of parents' doctors, moved to US from Japan 5 years ago, 4 kids who've all been counted in official numbers here, as do ANY OTHER Japanese nationals living abroad, so it's LARGE number, no transparency naturally and almost none will be returning here...that's why they're there and yes. they're highly educated with resources in general with the skills to get work visas etc.

Ok my kid needs to take a quick nap now!

@ John -

Japanese are all very rich.

Have you even been to Japan?

Farcical statement.

I am very interested in this situation. Acceleration means we will see some interesting results very soon. It’s like a big experiment. Let’s see how it will develop, and if the government will be able to do anything about this, and which measures will work the most.

Ok little boy's asleep now - why's he's growing so fast!

Here's the deal, big part of problem's sexism, most kids are girls in Japan, bit over 55%, trending up steadily for decades and if you're Dad you know Dad's in Japan feel a strong sense shame if they don't have a boy...

This exists everywhere to some degree but it's FAR stronger here, I know having spent lots of time around other parents with daycare etc. Good friend of mine was in shock after he had his second little girl, thankfully he had a boy the 3rd time. You see the ONLY reason most Dads want second or third child is to have a boy, that's a serious truth here. I've seen the stats, those already with a boy about 4-5x less likely to have a second child...

Fellow Dad above just nicest guy in world and yet not having a boy just was too much., crazy but true, nothing more emotional than kids and nothing brings out emotions in adults more than kids, not even close, I've seen it all and it's all even more true in Japan strangely...

Numbers always tell a story, like it or not we have to understand truth in order to solve serious problems!

PS. these office workers busy drinking, flirting, smoking, partying to all hours, if they're Dads, HIGHLY likely they've just got girls, while Dads most trying to avoid this afterwork chaos tend to have boys, do your own market research, it'll blow your mind

Here's the deal, big part of problem's sexism, most kids are girls in Japan, bit over 55%, 

This is incorrect. Women outnumber men by about that much in the overall population, but that is because women live longer on average and in elderly age brackets they significantly outnumber men. In younger age groups, and particularly children, males actually outnumber females, not the other way around:

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/tsuki/index.html

Everyone knows positive 'growth' mindset's the key to success and why kids (and many other things!) are so critical everyone's future success!

Imagine this insanity, people so busy 'saving' while their assets 'deflate' as all the buyers disappear.... Growth mindset requires investing for a better future, not simply trying to save for a future you don't believe in!

Kids - ultimate 'growth' asset, there' s never a good or safe time to have kids and it's never logical to do so...

BUT as Mom often reminds me, when we had nothing but each other and struggled, those were best times looking back, coming from highly educated mother of 5 who's now far more "comfortable" with many more grandkids and great grand kids! Today's she's 86, super healthy and busy helping with next generations! Even old man helps out bit! They'd be dead, bored out of their minds or completely insane if it was just the two of them!

John

I see many comments about poverty in japan. Are you kidding me? Japanese are all very rich. I have been looking for a high end nice hotel vacation for school holiday, and all of them fully booked 2 months ahead.

They are certainly not "all very rich" as a short walk around town will show you.

The reason for low child birth is that couples sleep with others outside marriage so they can’t make a child. The known rate maybe around 35%, the reality is around 100% with 1% error chance. There is no family and values in japan as in other countries.

And your basis for this ridiculous claim is what exactly?

You know what they say about statistics, lies and dam lies right? Some call it fake news

Almost nobody reading these posts knew until today that any baby born to ONE/TWO Japanese Nationals OUTSIDE Japan's ALWAYS included in this baby 'count'

This is another 'truth' not covered in media, lack of male babies, because they don't want to scare men from trying to have a kid/create any disincentive etc.

There's NO PARENT in Japan that believes little boys outnumber little girls, bet heavily anyone saying so is NOT a parent, not even close, but they're an expert!

Well known number of male babies dropping because men globally are experiencing long term secular loss in testosterone/male hormone levels, many blame it on climate change, sedentary lifestyle etc.

Also well known vast majority of pregnancy terminations, elective abortions/no medical basis are female children

Number of male children far less than female in Japan, including newborns, ask any teacher, doctor, etc. Just open your eyes, probably you don't have children if you believe otherwise and I'm definitely a numbers guy...tells a story remember?!?!

The clueless self interested politicos in Tokyo are responsible for the malaise that is present day Japan -keep feeding the oldsters and Japan will implode on itself!

I'd also venture that parents don't believe the traditional Japanese education has any relevance anymore and every parent worries about education! Not unlike those who believe an environment is unhealthy or unsafe are surely less likely to want to risk having children

Remember when spelling was valuable 'skill', now obviously with 'spell-check' it has no value.

Kanji, no company needs it, nobody writes it anymore given software and yet education system still doubles down on it? World's most deflationary educational asset, everyone knows it, that SCARES wannabe parents!

Entire global economy based on standards in order to enhance efficiency, risk mgmt. improve communications, etc., that's not Japanese and less so every day, hardly a comforting thought for most normal Japanese, not to mention China looming right next door, Covid, population decline, debt levels, global warming, etc. No real surprise people scared to have kids, stressful stuff!

Term sociologists use is 'culture capture', hanging on to the past even though by doing so it acts to destroy your future. Well even if society's not changing, people feel real world effects and 'react' by not getting married, not having kids, etc.

Look at Amazon 'ecosystem', truly global, most may not know most of their sales are on behalf of third parties, Amazon 'tiny' partner, provides logistics, tech, inventory and of course marketplaces etc. Anyway, total economic activity of Amazon's ecosystem easily 2x Japanese economy and growing rapidly including in Japan, all in less than 30 years! This sort of progress in global economy has left Japan behind and those considering children know it, understand truly global competitive nature of economy today and just how poorly Japan's adapting to new economic global realities on all fronts

It all starts with education, all kids need the RIGHT education in order to compete and be successful and people won't want kids if they don't firmly believe they'll have a fair shot at being successful!

Japanese are all very rich.

How is that possible? The minimum wage is still 1000 yen an hour. lol

The future of a country is its people. What if there are no productive people around? Old people can be still be productive however they've worked long and hard and deserve to retire and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

You can’t expect a people to invest in their country when the country doesn’t invest in its people.

Oh there's LOTS of 'investment'.....

1) BOJ money printing/approx. 3x size of GPD, invests in nearly EVERY Asset Class and GROWING daily!

2) Japanese due to kanji requires 8-10x more 'study' time for equivalent proficiency vs. Korean/German/English

Only problem? Investments are DEFLATIONARY assets!!!

Here's the deal, big part of problem's sexism, most kids are girls in Japan, bit over 55%, trending up steadily for decades

Once again a claim with nothing to support it. It may as well be a made up number - I can't take it any more seriously than that.

From day care hassles to elementary, middle, and H.S school demands and rules, young mothers and couples will have to give up the best times of their young lives for that child and many refuse to do it, and I don't blame them.

There are too many rules. People in Japan need to insist on some of these rules ending. Remember that quote by Henry David Thoreau on rules... "Any..."