A nosedive means children being born now will be thrown into a society that becomes distorted, shrinks and loses its ability to function.

Sounds like it's becoming a vicious circle then.

Japanese ladies are often adaptable and still in demand all over the world for marriage and work and Japanese men can get better salaries overseas, if they show some adaptablity. My advice, for what it's worth, is get out as soon as you can. Things don't seem to be getting any better, despite 50 years warning.

Cry me a tear. When I was younger, a "nose dive" was literally a "nose dive" (off some some concrete platform into unknown water). But we did it because it looked exciting and were interested in seeing the results.

THAT attitude is what Japanese kids are missing today. (Well, that and housing and education costs.)

 a society that becomes distorted, shrinks and loses its ability to function.

Isn't that already happening today? Japan is distorted and is shrinking. As for losing its ability to function- well every single sector of the economy is experiencing labor shortages. Inflation is destroying households. Meanwhile the gov are raising their own salaries. Society is dysfunctional here.

My advice, for what it's worth, is get out as soon as you can. Things don't seem to be getting any better, despite 50 years warning.

Agree.

A nosedive means children being born now will be thrown into a society that becomes distorted, shrinks and loses its ability to function.

An extinction means where a population doesn't have offspring to continue its existence.

It is a bit more complicated. There are a minority of families with 3 or more children who like and can handle a big family and another minority that either are single or married with no children. Strategies should focus on those who want and can handle having children as opposed to encouraging or shaming those who have no interest or ability to have children either physically or financially.

a society that becomes distorted, shrinks and loses its ability to function.

Having children is a personal choice, and people just don't want as many these days. This is a trend that is happening all over the world, apart from in developing countries: and it will happen in those countries too one day. It's something that society will have to adjust for, like it or not.

The government should focus not on rates and hitting targets, but on ensuring that wages, social care, and societal support are sufficient so that all those who want to have to children can have them. If the government does this, then the country has the "correct" birth rate, no matter what that rate is.

This quote is what I have been saying here for more than 2decades, even if families have 3 or more kids the population will STILL decline, Japan may well already be beyond turning this around sadly!

It is a bit more complicated. There are a minority of families with 3 or more children who like and can handle a big family and another minority that either are single or married with no children.

Even 3+ kids is not likely to do much to population overall at this point, as I have harped for ages LOOK at the population pyramid for Japan the BASE is SHRINKING & that base CANNOT expand over time as things currently are, its really simple sad reality

What a drama queen.

Smaller populations have been shown to be higher educated, more productive, richer, and leaders in creating new technologies. Look at the Swiss, Swedes, and Belgians.

kyushubillToday 02:20 pm JST

What a drama queen.

Smaller populations have been shown to be higher educated, more productive, richer, and leaders in creating new technologies. Look at the Swiss, Swedes, and Belgians.

Those countries didn't go through an elder apocalypse to get where they are. They may yet, too.

Anyway, young men and women, if you want kids but are worried about the future for them in Japan, there are still opportunities to have children overseas and bring them up there. I know many Japanese who have done just that. Japan is not the whole world. It's a tiny segment of it. Just try to become a bit more international in your outlook and you can do it.

LDP didn't do anything substantial then to avert this and won't now either.

Reproduce or fade I to oblivion.

We may need to go back to a system of polygamy where a stallion male has multiple wives and most men do without.

Minisyer whatever.

As usual, we hear nothing from the persistent downvoters. No interesting suggestions as to what to do about the problems? Just live in a world of denial and hope for the best?