Japan's population marks biggest fall on record

Good. IMO, the population should decrease to find its point of natural equilibrium. This idea that Japan has to keep growing and competing as the "3rd largest economy" or "keep growing, expanding and winning" is killing the planet. Embrace the decline! Balance the needs with the resources you have. New Zealand is a good example.

Prospective fathers need to stay out of the 40+ degree baths for a month before attempting trying to conceive a child. Only the strong sperm survive-the female sperm-in the worse conditions. Keep cool!

@ FizzBit - I see where you are coming from, but NZ has plenty of young people, a ready supply of doctors, nurses and care workers for the future. Skilled immigration helps immensely. Japan does not. I have no idea where Japan will find revenue for pensions and hospitals in the coming decades with no young people in the joint. Imagine having to retire in Japan!

I am with FizzBit here. This notion that Japan has to keep growing and growing and be all powerful grows old. Over time, I think half the population would be enough. Now, if they could ever change their ways and try another route, understanding that productive output is no longer how "successful countries" are measured, that might actually work.

Japan has a lot to offer but I believe those mega-rich days are over.

Half the population would be find, but they need to drastically alter the demographics you'd imagine. 60 million geriatrics would possibly be a slightly disfunctional society.

Bura,

Sure thing, this isn't done in a flash, I am aware of that. What's sad is that the mental state of most Japanese don't seem to question this "oh, we have to grow" ideas that still linger. Until that happens, nothing will ever change. It's funny to me that no people question that wherever you go, there are queing and waiting in lines, be it the highway, Fujisan or the local famous meat shop. Instead it's just the same old "shoganai ne" that modern Japanese like so much.

Like I have been saying for ages the population will keep on dropping at a higher rate as time goes by, the country has no plans, no ideas, no anything as regards to the future here.

So in the not too distant future most will finely GET this & then the number of news will then drop even faster.

The future is looking bleaker every few months these days, the govt & people need to get their act together but thats highly unlikely to happen, glad we dont have kids here

Here, the plan: first, depopulating the large cities and greening them up by building single or double story retirement communities out in the valleys. These complexes will be self supporting from local farmers, golf cart type vehicles inside the complex, and maybe even mini nukes to generate power. Initiate a campaign to receuit, train and place nursing care/ doctors/ support staff/ etc students once they are finished in the program. Housing for staff should also follow the single / double story buildings, no large apartment/ condo buildings, better yet, build houses that will last. Support services, supermarkets/convienence stores will follow. Young people will soon be getting married and having puppies. To pay for this, keep printing. Seriously, haven't figured that one out yet, coming soon. Did I miss anything?

The future will bear a resemblence to Mad Max 2 with geriatrics .

An increasing population may not be the best thing for a country like Japan but at least people should be suggesting solutions to slow down the decline. My country Canada takes 250000 immigrants a year which is about the number of people Japan is loosing, Japan needs a real immigration policy, at least make it easier for those already living here to get permanent residency. 284000 lost this year, when do we hit a million a year? 2025?

Half the population would be find, but they need to drastically alter the demographics you'd imagine. 60 million geriatrics would possibly be a slightly disfunctional society.

Indeed... and more to the point, who is going to pay for the 60 million geriatrics? Because the government and current pension system is certainly not going to be able to.

What Japan needs, more than 60 million geriatrics, is babies. However, unless the government massively change their policies to make Japan A - more family friendly (less crazy overtime) B- More Child friendly (better daycare facilities) and C- Cheaper (education and housing particularly) then people are just not going to have any.

I witnessed an interesting thread on a forum today, in which pregnant women were discussing how the cost of childbirth in hospitals and clinics increases over weekends and holidays (like golden week) and their concerns about what will happen if the final bill is very expensive. I think what should actually be happening, is that the government should be providing incentives to parents, to encourage more children. While there are some available at the moment, (ie you get the price of the childbirth back on insurance, and a very small allowance every month called "kodomo Teate") it needs to be much, much more.

Otherwise families are just not going to have that child. Definitely not that second or third.

In that case, property costs will become more reasonably affordable! Double-plus good!

marcelito ,

It sure ain`t gonna get better... and immigration is a toboo here.

Many European countries have opened the gates to immigration in early 1980s. Ask today an English, German or Dutch what they think about immigrants.

not to put too fine a point on it, but the societies need to make a point early on of getting married and having kids if you want to cushion this problem. Traditional values worked for a reason.

@FizzBit: best comment ever.

Seems like every year a new record is set.......