This week, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced that Japan’s population is declining sharply. Looks like problems!
The number of births went down by 7,977 since the previous year to 1,088,488. This is first decline of this kind in three years. The number of deaths marked a record high, up 8,818 since the previous year to 1,134,402. Oh no!!
- Japan needs more babies?
The result is a state of natural attrition with deaths outnumbering births by 45,914. How gloomy!
Maybe they need to re-vamp the popular 1960′s song ‘Hello Little One’ to remind the Japanese that they need to say ‘hello to new little one’s’.
Take a look down memory lane with this clip from the 1960′s. The mother singing to the baby “Hello Little One” sparked a huge interest in babies in Japan!
Is that a large Kewpie in the corner of the cot I spy?
One of the biggest rates of decline was in Hokkaido followed by Aomori, Akita, Fukushima and Iwate. By comparison the Osaka region (Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Nara) saw a population increase for the first time in five years. And by prefecture, Tokyo experienced the greatest population surge.
Sounds like Japan needs to encourage a ‘baby boom’ again!?
Interestingly, one reason that has typically coloured the governments’ interest in promoting population growth in Japan is a historically sensitive issue.
From around the 1930s, Japan’s leaders urged women to produce as many children as possible to fuel the war effort. Under the slogan “umeyō, fuyaseyō” (let’s give birth! Let’s increase [the size and strength of the nation!]) contraceptive goods disappeared and abortion clinics were closed (White, 2002). As a consequence of such forced policies, Japan’s politicians today tread wearily around this issue.
I am intrigued. For more research on Japan’s declining birthrate go to this discussion paper by Julian Chapple.
The situation in Japan is a critical one and since March 2002 debate has been reignited on how to stem the downward trend of Japan’s birth-rate.
This one is certainly very cute!
- Baby in a silk cocoon!
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anyone remember konnichi wa akachan? cute footage http://bit.ly/MkvBM
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @KimonoBox: anyone remember konnichi wa akachan? cute footage http://bit.ly/MkvBM
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
I sure do remember when this song was a hit. RT @KimonoBox: anyone remember konnichi wa akachan? cute footage http://bit.ly/MkvBM
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RT @shibuya246: RT @KimonoBox: anyone remember konnichi wa akachan? cute footage http://bit.ly/MkvBM
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
i still think I can single handedly solve Japans birthrate problems
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
i still think I can single handedly solve Japans birthrate problems
http://kimonobox.com/2009/08/konnichi-wa-akachan/
I guess Japan at that time was the furtherest thing on my mind. But yes that does look like a large kewpie in the crib.
@JesusNeedsNewPR I think Japan needs a #sexweek too.no babies lately!!RT @kimonobox anyone remember konnichi wa akachan? http://bit.ly/MkvBM
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
http://kimonobox.com/2009/08/konnichi-wa-akachan/
I guess Japan at that time was the furtherest thing on my mind. But yes that does look like a large kewpie in the crib.
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Jamaipanese,just how do you plan on doing that? Or do I dare have to ask? lol:)
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Jamaipanese,just how do you plan on doing that? Or do I dare have to ask? lol:)
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
This is one of my favorite Japanese songs! RT @KimonoBox: Konnichi wa Akachan | Japan http://bt.io/6YP
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Good to hear that someone else noticed the Kewpie!
This comment was originally posted on kimonobox.com
Jamaipanese,just how do you plan on doing that? Or do I dare have to ask? lol:)
Good to hear that someone else noticed the Kewpie!