Japan's child population falls to record low

Tuesday 05th May, 06:57 AM JST

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smithinjapan at 11:56 AM JST - 5th May

Anpanman is bang on, and I have little else to add except that it seems not only is Japan acting surprised every time this comes up and yet never doing a thing about it, they are taking steps to make it WORSE. One of the only viable options to this low birthrate is to bring in a larger foreign workforce, ie. make it easier for people to come in and get visas and/or naturalize. And yet, the new G-card developments are going to make that WORSE, not better. That's just one example.

Basically, the longer these studies are ignored by the government (aside from them always saying, "We must do something"), the worse the problem will get. Instead of just getting misogynists like former PM Mori or Yanagisawa to weigh in with 'baby machine' comments, they should reduce the work week for men and increase subsidized services for people with infants/young children. Open up daycare centers for those who wish to work so that they can afford to raise more children. Give holidays to men who work so that they can spend more time with the family and be a little more active in the rearing process (likewise for women where it's reversed). Make delivery and health care free or reimbursable, etc.

Again, as Anpanman said, despite being possibly the most expensive country to raise a child, the support is next to nothing. THAT is the problem.
GW at 06:51 PM JST - 5th May

people who say the decline in population is good need to take a look at a population pyramid for Jpn, its set to become inverted, the popuation is declining slow now, then the eldery will suck up ALL the resouces, then die off & there will be nothing left but a broken shell of a country as GLD... says above it is a disaster that is in plain sight but everyone is totally ignoring
Rizvi at 07:07 PM JST - 5th May

SHORTEST SOLUTION OF JAPANESE PROBLEMS: Grandchildren need Grandpa & Grandpa needs Grandchildren This is somewhat guarantying Welfare of both the generations and thus every professional woman does not hesitate to marry earlier...OK! and thus loneliness problem of elders will also be solved too happily...God save Japan..
onewrldoneppl at 10:33 PM JST - 5th May

if more can be done to help working parents, then the birthrate will improve. the cost of private education is too high. the quality of public school education is too low. the rigid mentality of employers towards graduates of public schools. the fact that most parents work ridiculously long hours and cannot afford babysitters. the vanishing of extended families. all of these trend have created a situation whereby people have neither the time/resources to have and raise children. as well, infertility is rampant. the number of 20 & 30 year olds who want to have children, can't and can't afford fertility treatments in japan is soaring.
aelieth at 10:49 PM JST - 5th May

With those saying that the declining population is a good thing, I can agree with you. However, Japan needs to look at using that to their advantage and realize positive growth in their own country will not happen for many sectors, such as the housing market, educational system, and etc. I know education is already being hit hard with changes to college acceptance over the last few years.

GW is right, there needs to be major shifts in policy in order to maintain... well, any sort of stability and not let the economy become a black hole. I believe Japan could emerge even stronger if they put their eggs in the right basket in the long run.
LostinNagoya at 11:03 PM JST - 5th May

Modern Japan is not a country for children.
NYC_Samurai at 01:05 AM JST - 6th May

Japan's child population falls to record low

Is anyone really surprised?

Modern Japan is not a country for children.

Sad, but simple and accurate.
Molenir at 01:06 AM JST - 6th May

With those saying that the declining population is a good thing, I can agree with you.

I don't. I think its a very bad thing. Hard to see it as being otherwise. Particularly as the population gets older, and has fewer workers to support the elderly.

Agreed about the policy shifts needed though. Daycare needs to become free. Maternity leave laws need to be passed, that guarantee women their jobs back after giving birth, and these laws need to be enforced. Childbirth needs to likewise become free, and tax breaks and incentives given to larger families to offset the greater costs. Abortion should be discouraged, and adoption strongly encouraged. Quite a few other things as well.
beavis at 05:06 AM JST - 6th May

Policy change, free daycare, more time off, tax breaks.
Yeah, right. Its easy to spot the solutions but who here is willing to hold their breath until it happens?
elbudamexicano at 07:44 AM JST - 6th May

I have 2 lovely children, raising them here in Japan, and yes it may be expensive, but being a parent is never easy, no matter how much money is in your pockets or bank account. Should the Japanese government try to do more to more to help young families in Japan? Of course! France seems to really know how to help young mothers, free day care centers at every train station! I think they get at least 5 thousand Euros for having their first baby, and more and more for the next children. Japan needs to wake up and start helping us make more lovely babies before it is just a bunch of islands with old geezers ready to jump in to the "ohaka" and pray for a better next life time in their future existence.
kirakira25 at 08:56 AM JST - 6th May

Those people saying population decline is a good thing - yes, it is, if the demographic balance remains the same. But that is the whole point of this article - in not so many years time, half of that population will be aged and unable to work, living off pensions. And who is going to provide the taxes then? See the bigger picture here!
nadavaloryo at 08:42 PM JST - 8th May

save japan,,,,
jonnyboy at 11:38 PM JST - 8th May

it amuses me that when this issue is raised and people suggest increasing female freedom in the work market would solve the issue, whilst simultaneously acknowledging that overworking men is part of the problem. am i the only one who sees a contradiction there? imo the role of women in the work place has an insignificant role in the the issue when you consider far larger factors such as the distractions created by a deeply entrenched consumer society, or the inflated costs of childcare and education
illsayit at 09:37 PM JST - 9th May

I like the over 60 age being high.

I think it is pretty funny about the child percentage, it can change very quickly, Id imagine.
sharky1 at 04:31 PM JST - 11th May

If they reinstate the tax advantage for nuclear families, outlaw abortion, and make deadbeat dads support their kids, the birth rate will make a u-turn. BTW Go Okinawa! Gotta love the effects of a tropical setting!