Japan sees biggest population fall yet

Here at the Guardian.

Actually, Japan saw its lowest birth rate about 18 years ago, and its up this year by 0.02% or so. The difference now is that the large pre-war generation is aging and beginning to die off at a faster rate than babies are being born. Caring for the disproportionately large numbers of elderly is now big business in Japan. There are far more of them than there young people to support them or pay their social security. And it will only get worse as the boomers age.

Now, the advanced nations of the west have abysmal (if not quite this bad) birth-rates too. So why is it such a big deal in Japan?

Because unlike Japan, those countries have aggressive immigration policies. People from India with engineering or medical degrees can become Canadian citizens really easily. The province of Alberta goes to England and tries to entice people with medical backgrounds to emigrate.

Japan just won't hear that. While in theory its possible and legal, in practice almost no foreigners ever become Japanese citizens. The only immigrants they accept are phillipino hostesses for the nightclubs, and poor chinese to do the drudge work in factories for lower pay and worse conditions. A servant class. And to add insult to injury, they're all here on temporary work visas.

Japan desperately needs to replenish its labor force. This country's economy relies on skilled labor, but they have a serious shortage of engineers, and it will only get worse. They can:

A) Instead of blaming single women for not marrying and having kids (and "not fulfilling their duties as baby making machines", as one government official put it), they can invest in Japanese education and offer enormous benefits to couples that have children. The cost of raising kids in Japan is astronomical, and few want to do it in times of economic uncertainty. The government should be forking over something to the order of 2 or 3 million yen per child in benefits, tax breaks and baby bonuses. Sounds ridiculous, but when you consider each child is a future worker, its a pretty sensible investment.

B) Attract educated, skilled foreigners to move and work here, and grant them citizenship and a path into the society.

Something tells me neither option is forthcoming.