After reading countless articles and documentaries, I have narrowed down the cause of the declining population to 2 things:
1. Changing desires and values in the Japanese youth
2. Love as a commodity in Japan through technology and industrialization
Changing desires. What does that mean? Well according to the documentary that I posted and various other articles, the Japanese are simply not interested in having boyfriends/girlfriends, families, or kids anymore. Women in Japan are about equal to men in the work force. Which is a great achievement for any modern nation. However, this means that they don't want to sacrifice their careers and take time off to have families and raise kids. They do not have the time. A negative shadow is cast upon women in Japan who have kids but still put a lot of time into work. They are seen as mothers who abandon their children. Thus, women would rather remain single and further their dreams. As someone who has similar views, I can understand how they feel--why have kids and then face the decision of choosing between my career and my kids? And then look like a terrible person for working hard? The young men in Japan have a similar view. They have grown up immersed in technology. They are comfortable with a digital girlfriend as opposed to a real one. They do not feel that they have the time to dedicate to keeping a stable relationship. On top of that, have a girlfriend is expensive! The problem with the two sexes is about the same--Japanese youth have such a strong work ethic, that they aren't sure whether or not it is worth sacrificing their time and their careers in order to have an expensive relationship. When I quantify love and life like that, it even starts to make sense to me.
Speaking of quantifying, the Japanese have perfected turning virtually everything into a commodity--even love. In a nation where people have strong work ethics and spend their lives enhancing their careers, people don't have time to spend getting to know someone well enough to start a relationship. In a country such as this, there is a market for people who still need to fill that void where a relationship might be. Japan has everything from "cuddle houses" to "host clubs." A woman can buy the company of a friendly engaging man for an hour, rather than wasting all that time getting to know a boyfriend over a few dates. A man can go to a house where he can pay a girl to cuddle with him and give him the full girlfriend and/or mother experience. With so many products to replace real love, why spend time and money on the real thing?
The decades of technological advancement and emphasis on hard work and dedication have produced a generation of youth that don't place value in relationships and family life at all. Many have grown to be extremely socially awkward to the point where they struggle with basic social interractions with those of the opposite sex. Others have grown to despise relationships and the entire "western" idea of love. As foreign as this all may seem, I can somehow understand how Japanese people feel. I know that right now my goals are my career and everything else (relationships, etc.) comes second. Maybe the Japanese seem cynical, but they have also come to a very rational point of understanding. Many people around the world have kids and families because it is "the thing to do" according to society. People who can't even afford food decide to have kids and the results are over population and food shortages. The Japanese have found a way to avoid those issues, which is quite remarkable in my opinion. And they all generally feel the same way. I wish everyone in America could agree on one thing like that (wishful thinking on my part).
Changing desires. What does that mean? Well according to the documentary that I posted and various other articles, the Japanese are simply not interested in having boyfriends/girlfriends, families, or kids anymore. Women in Japan are about equal to men in the work force. Which is a great achievement for any modern nation. However, this means that they don't want to sacrifice their careers and take time off to have families and raise kids. They do not have the time. A negative shadow is cast upon women in Japan who have kids but still put a lot of time into work. They are seen as mothers who abandon their children. Thus, women would rather remain single and further their dreams. As someone who has similar views, I can understand how they feel--why have kids and then face the decision of choosing between my career and my kids? And then look like a terrible person for working hard? The young men in Japan have a similar view. They have grown up immersed in technology. They are comfortable with a digital girlfriend as opposed to a real one. They do not feel that they have the time to dedicate to keeping a stable relationship. On top of that, have a girlfriend is expensive! The problem with the two sexes is about the same--Japanese youth have such a strong work ethic, that they aren't sure whether or not it is worth sacrificing their time and their careers in order to have an expensive relationship. When I quantify love and life like that, it even starts to make sense to me.
Speaking of quantifying, the Japanese have perfected turning virtually everything into a commodity--even love. In a nation where people have strong work ethics and spend their lives enhancing their careers, people don't have time to spend getting to know someone well enough to start a relationship. In a country such as this, there is a market for people who still need to fill that void where a relationship might be. Japan has everything from "cuddle houses" to "host clubs." A woman can buy the company of a friendly engaging man for an hour, rather than wasting all that time getting to know a boyfriend over a few dates. A man can go to a house where he can pay a girl to cuddle with him and give him the full girlfriend and/or mother experience. With so many products to replace real love, why spend time and money on the real thing?
The decades of technological advancement and emphasis on hard work and dedication have produced a generation of youth that don't place value in relationships and family life at all. Many have grown to be extremely socially awkward to the point where they struggle with basic social interractions with those of the opposite sex. Others have grown to despise relationships and the entire "western" idea of love. As foreign as this all may seem, I can somehow understand how Japanese people feel. I know that right now my goals are my career and everything else (relationships, etc.) comes second. Maybe the Japanese seem cynical, but they have also come to a very rational point of understanding. Many people around the world have kids and families because it is "the thing to do" according to society. People who can't even afford food decide to have kids and the results are over population and food shortages. The Japanese have found a way to avoid those issues, which is quite remarkable in my opinion. And they all generally feel the same way. I wish everyone in America could agree on one thing like that (wishful thinking on my part).
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