Population decline is caused by a decrease in the number of women in their 20s and 30s, and the outflow of young people to Tokyo. We need to implement measures to stem the low birthrates and over-conc

Huh? Not enough women in their 20s and 30s? I mean, I would love to have twice as many women and men, but how are you going to make that happen?

How do young people moving to Tokyo cause population decline? I can see a population decline in the hinterlands, which is what I think this guy is trying to say, but a mobile population doesn't necessarily lead to a population decline.

Plus, in 1979, a government official said the government was thinking of ways to decentralize the government so that fewer people had to move to Tokyo to work. 1979. 35 years ago. I guess we can safely say, Mission Accomplished!

"Population decline is caused by a decrease in the number of women in their 20s and 30s, and the outflow of young people to Tokyo."

Ah, no. Here are some of the intelligent reasons why the population (and childbirth rate) is decreasing.

1.) Children are expensive. Last count said the average cost of a first-born is about 25,000,000 yen (US$250,000) and that gets you to the beginning of college. Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline.

2.) No affordable day care. We live in an era where two incomes are necessary more often than not and you can't have two incomes if one of the parents (usually the mother) can't work. Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline.

3.) Marriage on the whole sucks. It was fine when you got married at sixteen and died when you were in your thirties but to get married and have to stay with the same person (and his or her family for forty or fifty years----more on that later) is a drag most of the time. Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline.

4.) Women's rights. Women are slowly and finally starting to be allowed to earn a living on their own and do not have to rely on a man for financial support and social acceptance. Of course there are still some gold-diggers out there but the majority of women are not in that group and want to enjoy a life of independence. Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline.

5.) In-laws. These days when you marry your spouse you marry his or her family. The increase in life expectancy means that as your children are walking out the door to begin their lives they will pass their grandparents who are walking in so they can be taken care of. This is physically, emotionally and financially exhausting for "the sandwich generation." Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline.

6.) The insatiable elderly. This group, for a number of reasons, consumes far more than they contribute which is leading to increased taxes (which are often wasted) to pay for them. The ever increasing amount of taxes combined with the ever increasing rate of taxes is more than the average person can financially bear. Hence, the drop in number of children which is leading to population decline. And finally....

7.) Idiot politicians like Masuda whom I bet has never changed a diaper, cleaned a house and got his seat from a relative. As long as Japan is run by fools like this, we will continue to decline but at least be treated to a steady supply of comedy.

younf people going to Tokyo shouldn't accelerate population decline. it is more that young people don't want to or can't afford to have children

too little incentive to have kids in Japan. Same trend as across most of the developed world.

Telecommuting. It is the solution to a host of Japan's problems. It will help stem urbanization, flexible working conditions will encourage working mothers, it will help stop workplace harassment (there's only so much harassing you can do with emoticons), help reduce the cost of living, etc.

And of course it benefits companies and the country too. Lower overheads, cheaper workforce, less strain on infrastructure, less pollution, lower power use, etc.

A simple and easily implemented solution that virtually every other first world country has embraced but yet another area where Japan is living in the past.

What a cold, clinical quote. Companies should be forced to give their employees proper holidays, better working hours and stop this 'work is more important than a happy life' garbage that gets shoved down their throats. There needs to be less pressure on the working population, only then can they relax and think about raising a family.

I agree TBird. Not only will more workers be needed with a strict 8 hour day (in most cases), but families would spend more money on leisure activities. We're going camping this weekend and I bet we'll be the only couple there.

I would add, stop building these boxes with only a couple of yards of space, relocate large companies to the country side and the people will follow, while supporting local farmers. It could be done.

Hahahahahaha!! Classic. I have to ask how much tax money was wasted on this tripe? Why is it somehow always the women's fault that the birthrate is so low?

No worries if the population declines worldwide. Less pollution, more resources and less hunger. Population growth cannot carry on forever and nor can many of our natural resources.

@falseflagsteve Fair enough, but Japan is developing a huge inverted pyramid in terms of the age of its population. Japan will almost certainly become very poor before the population stabilizes I'm sad to say.

Mr Masuda seems to have forgotten the natural and unnatural disasters that come to afflict Japan. Jumping off train platforms is also featured .....

The politicians are clearly idiots of the highest order!(your welcome for the complement!)

I am getting sick of reading & hearing about all this women between 15-40yrs old BS!! Don't you idiots realize that by heaping the blame on the women of Japan YOU will only be making women LESS likely t want a family!

These morons that are ruining( I mean "running") the country need to take a look at the BIG picture instead heaping this onto the women of Japan(DOH!). As I have been harping for ages the country is in dire need of a total overhaul, so many things are messed up.

But alas the old fogies in Japan are content to let the rot continues, I have little hope for Japan in this regard BUT would love to proven totally WRONG!

Sadly unlikely me thinks!