Aso says having children an 'obligation,' but later retracts remark

Friday 08th May, 06:45 AM JST

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Nosweat at 01:24 PM JST - 8th May

Cleo- an excellent point there. Just because we are here on this planet does not necessarily mean we are here to breed (to put it bluntly).

Who else are members of the Zero Population Growth Society (those who do not wish to have children)?
cleo at 01:36 PM JST - 8th May

Who else are members of the Zero Population Growth Society (those who do not wish to have children)?

Emphatically not me!!! Having kids was the best thing I ever did. I've got two, and with more money and more time I'd liked to have had more.

I just don't think people who don't particularly want kids should feel they ought to have them. So good on you too, Nosweat. :-)
shakakhan at 01:48 PM JST - 8th May

man it is an obligation...you have one take care of them and raise them to be good adults....too damn simple for some people to grasp!
fairyprince at 02:06 PM JST - 8th May

Aso really is a moron isn't he.
elbudamexicano at 02:29 PM JST - 8th May

Obligation???? What an idiot! Obligation to reproduce?? Ok! How about an obligation for your wife to love you and to tell you sweet, romantic sexy comments, hahaha! LOL! This guy has been reading way too many mangas and is getting confused between his make believe world in Akihabara and the real world down here in the dirty streets of Tokyo! Moron? No, no just mabye KY???
jonnyboy at 02:34 PM JST - 8th May

Who else are members of the Zero Population Growth Society (those who do not wish to have children)?

i'm not against having children, i'm against the conditions i would have to live under should i have some
OneForAll at 08:31 PM JST - 8th May

SmithInJapan-1000USD taxes total will pay for health care in the US. Retirement and school taxes are included? Not a bad deal at all.

Our children will do fine here. Somebody has to work. Jonnyboy plan your future to get into a better position for children. Even so the love you show them will be returned 100 fold and there is joy in simple living. They will certainly be thankful for the life and sacrifices you make for them. I think by giving life you gain it. Literally here but also in people who do not have children to dedicated their life for some great passion they have. Cheers.
shanabelle at 08:58 PM JST - 8th May

Aso, spoken like a true old-school Catholic!
sydenham at 09:27 PM JST - 8th May

Nosweat.

Just because we are here on this planet does not necessarily mean we are here to breed (to put it bluntly).

I don't want to start an argument, but that statement might be false depending upon if you are speaking of individuals or generalizing about an entire species. All living species' sole purpose is to further their own existence. Whether that entails doing the actual propagating or else improving the conditions for others to do so is obviously a mitigating factor for the individual to decide upon, so I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiments.

You can be a worker bee or a queen bee, both do their part as befits their ability. So Aso is right in a sense about obligation to the species, and wrong, but corrected his mistake about lumping all individuals into the same role.
Sarge at 09:29 PM JST - 8th May

"Just because we are here on this planet does not necessarily mean we are here to breed"

No, it just means we are here on this planet because our parents decided to breed.
Soochi at 10:51 PM JST - 8th May

*I know a few women here who want children but also want to keep their jobs. Since that it difficult in Japan (lack of kindergartens, social pressure, etc.) they just did not have children yet. *

These sacrifices are by no means unique to Japanese society. Your friends have made their choice and they've opted for work instead of starting a family which is perfectly fine. When they are eventually ready then they'll try for kids and I hope that they are successful.

Until that day however they'll continue to try and kid themselves (and you by the sounds of it) that their boss, their company, their local education authority, their neighbours, their stress, their parents and maybe even their pets are all working in unison to thwart their hopes and dreams of parenthood. What is even uglier about this excuse is that they are specifically blaming it on living in Japan as if the rest of the world somehow lays on 5-Star treatment for new mums.
usaexpat at 12:49 AM JST - 9th May

Maybe the fair citizens of Japan would fulfill that obligation if Aso's government found a way to fulfill their obligation of making people's lives better.
jeancolmar at 10:51 AM JST - 9th May

A mild-mannered Prime Minister by day, Taro-san becomes Japan's greatest super hero by night. Super Inseminator! Faster than a speeding spermatozoon, able to leap on tall pop stars in a single bound, Japan's masked, caped crusader is dedicated to increasing the number of future worshippers at Yasukuni.

"It's peacock!"

"It's a North Korea guided missile!"

"No, it's Super Inseminator!"

"EEEEK!"

"It's your obligation, madam. We are Japanese."

"Oh, I see. Thank you, masked man."
cracaphat at 10:27 PM JST - 9th May

If two people can live as a couple but don't want kids,don't need to marry if they are the same nationality.
elbudamexicano at 11:23 PM JST - 10th May

Let us pray for Aso and his big mouth and small brain!