Why is Japan grappling with record-low birth rates? Here's a clip from an interview I did with a local woman who tries to demystify this very complex issue. The Japanese government is no stranger to the issue, with Prime minister Fumio Kishida calling the low births “the biggest crisis... Japan faces." Despite the government offering more support and subsidies mostly for childbirth, children and families, experts doubt whether these efforts will be effective because so far they have largely focused on people who already are married or already are planning to have children, while not adequately addressing a growing population of young people who are reluctant to go that far. The number of births has been falling since 50 years ago, when it peaked at about 2.1 million. The decline to an annual number below 760,000 has happened faster than earlier projections predicting that would happen by 2035. So, why are younger Japanese people discouraged? Surveys cite: *bleak job prospects *the high cost of living *corporate cultures that are not compatible with having both parents work *Crying babies and children playing outside are increasingly considered a nuisance, and many young parents say they often feel isolated. It was interesting to travel to Japan, knowing they had one of the worst declining birth rates around the globe and less people getting married. While I did see a fair amount of children at Disneyland and in the parks, Japan is currently in crisis mode, with experts saying the upcoming six years leading to the 2030s represent Japan's final opportunity to reverse this troubling trend. Read more at:show more

Japanese are also increasingly single and disinterested in dating The Japanese media has dubbed the much-discussed increase in virginity and a purported decline in interest in dating and sex as symptoms of the 'herbivore-ization' of younger generations. In popular culture, adults who are unmarried and seemingly disinterested in finding romantic or sexual partners are 'herbivores' and those who are actively pursuing romantic partners are 'carnivores.'

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Must be more to it than that. Japan is experiencing an accelerating collapse in population.

When you visited last year, did you get any sense for why this may be? I was trying to figure out what's missing from this puzzle during my trip.

I honestly don’t think enough is being done to promote births and allow families to flourish. Which is pretty simple: - jobs - affordable housing - affordable schooling - affordable health - food security It really isn’t that hard.

Happens to many prosperous nations unfortunately.

So basically Japan is expensive, and without daycare it's basically impossible to have a two income household with kids. It's really bizarre to me that daycare doesn't really exist there.

Similar to what Grok told me the other day when people were discussing skyrocketing virginity in the US: “It’s a mix of advanced society issues. The main factors contributing to increasing virginity rates in the United States are multifaceted and include a combination of social, economic, and technological factors. 1. **Social Factors**: Longer time spent in education and economic factors play significant roles in how and why there are more male virgins or less sexual activity than before. The increased focus on education and career development can lead to delayed sexual activity among young adults. 2. **Economic Factors**: Poor economic outlook for younger folks and the increasing cost of living can also affect sexual activity. Financial instability and concerns about the future might lead young people to postpone sexual activity and other life milestones. 3. **Technological Factors**: The widespread use of technology and social media may be contributing to the rise in virginity rates. These platforms can serve as distractions and may reduce face-to-face interactions, potentially affecting the formation of intimate relationships. 4. **Pandemic and Health Concerns**: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on social interactions, leading to less physical contact and intimacy. Additionally, concerns about the spread of STIs and other health issues might make individuals more cautious about engaging in sexual activity. 5. **Pornography**: There is debate about the role of pornography in sexual activity rates. While some argue that the consumption of pornography may lead to decreased sexual activity among young men, others suggest that other factors, such as those mentioned above, play a more significant role. 6. **Cultural and Personal Factors**: Changing attitudes towards sex and relationships, as well as individual preferences and values, can also contribute to the increase in virginity rates. Some individuals may choose to abstain from sexual activity for religious, moral, or personal reasons. These factors collectively contribute to the complex landscape of sexual activity and virginity rates in the United States.”

I believe the main driver of population decline is the death of the nuclear family. working educated women, urbanization, etc. are symptoms of this. To reverse the trend you need a return to nuclear families with men as bread winners. No one will accept this so the trend is irreversible.

It is the high cost of living in the first place. Cosmopolitan cities in Japan are very expensive to live in. A middle class couple can barely survive living together, let alone have a baby. It is not the corporate life that both parents want, it's the life they have to live.

You ever talked to guys, candidly, when they think no one is listening? Behind the locker room doors and inside the gamer discords? Many see this world and immediately want no part in it. Survival simply means not talking about it and doing the daily routine.