This week I read an article titled
“Japan child population hits record low” by Kim Kyung-Hoon
at http://rt.com/news/156872-japan-children-population-decline/.
This article was posted on May 5, 2014 and as you can tell from the title, the
article is about Japan’s low child population. Of a group of 30 nations, Japan’s
population consists 12.8% of children ages 15 and younger (the lowest
percentage of the group). The population of seniors in Japan has exceeded the
population of children since 1997. The fertility rate of Japan is now one of
the lowest in the world at 1.39 births per woman. Gender inequality, strict
immigration policy, and lack of interest in sexual relations are different
causes for the low child population. A fraction of women and men of the younger
generation of Japan either have no interest in sexual relationships or they
despise sexual relationships altogether.
Japan
has a point system foreign policy. Foreign professionals who would like to work
in Japan must choose to be placed in one of these three categories: academic
research, advanced specialized/ technical activities, or business management
activities. Next, these foreign professionals shall receive points based on
their education, experience, research performance, and their promised annual
salary. If the foreign professionals earn a total of 70 points then you will receive
a promised, permanent residence during your limited, five year time in Japan. During
that time you may bring a parent and have a servant under certain conditions.
You may also have permission for your husband or wife to work in Japan. Due to
this careful examination of Immigrants and the limited amount of time that they
can stay there is little opportunity to raise a family which could help to increase
the Japanese child population on a large enough scale.
The
role of women in Japanese societies has changed so that more women are in the
workforce leaving them less time to raise a family. Animosity may have also
developed between women and raising a family because it would result in them
becoming the stereotypical housewives and having to quit their hardworking jobs
which they take pride in.
Because
of the lack of children in Japan, the entire population is starting to dwindle
down. This lack of people or capable workers makes it difficult to make money
in Japan. That is why Japan started accepting foreign workers even if it is a
small amount Japan has slightly increased a depleting resource, capable workers.
