Japan government wants babies so badly, it will enter matchmaking

[Deleted]

Source: http://time.com/3744317/japan-birth-...ternity-leave/
Source: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/24...sy-way-out.htm

The Japanese government is so worried about the country’s low birth rate [ed. lowest in the world] that it’s thinking about getting into the matchmaking game.

A new draft policy to increase Japan’s flagging birth rate includes support for matchmaking, leave policies, and fertility centers in order to jump-start baby-making and address the country’s aging population. While the national government may not be sponsoring its own matchmaking efforts, it will be support local governments sponsoring speed-dating events, the Japan Times reports.
...
Matchmaking is one of several measures proposed by the government to fight the inevitable population dwindle if Japan doesn’t get its birth rate up. Other measures include expanding the scope of free nursing care, building more fertility centers, and increasing paternity leave. The government says it hopes that by 2020, 80% of men will take paternity leave immediately after the birth of their child, and 13% will take paternity leave to help care for children at some point in their careers. (Currently only 2% of men take time off for childrearing.)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet is expected to approve the policy.

In 2014, 1,001,000 babies were born in Japan, a drop of 9000 when compared to 2013. This is the fourth fall in successive years. Additionally, the ministry also estimates that 1,269,000 people passed away in 2014, which also led to a demographic decline of 268,000.
...
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research based its findings on survey as well as the census report which is conducted by the government every five years. The Institute estimates that by 2040, Japan's population - which peaked in 2010 (128 million) - will be dwindling at 107.2 million, which is 20 million lower than the current level.

Worse still, come 2050, the population of Japan could hit 97 million, which is a drop of 30 million from now.

Do you think it will work? Do you think they even should?
What do you think they could/should do instead?

[Wells]

Mmm I think working for some cultural changes is a good idea. As long as they're using carrots instead of sticks its fine.

That said it would be pretty simple to just not be so a bunch of tight asses about immigration instead.

[Reg]

I imagine a weird porn coming out of this about the Japanese government importing men to impregnate their women. With a sprinkle of rape and tentacles.

[endersblade]

Source: http://time.com/3744317/japan-birth-...ternity-leave/



Do you think it will work? Do you think they even should?
What do you think they could/should do instead?

Japan's... not sure how to put it, social lifestyle? Work ethic?...doesn't really allow time to raise kids unless you're extremely well off. They regularly have work weeks that would be considered illegal in the US. In other words, the country has nobody to blame but itself for creating an environment where nobody wants kids. A lot more than just government-mandated matchmaking will need to take place in order for people to want kids.

[Gemini Soul]

Sounds like i should move to japan

[endersblade]

I imagine a weird porn coming out of this about the Japanese government importing men to impregnate their women. With a sprinkle of rape and tentacles.

I will gladly sacrifice my seed to the cause. Repeatedly. Tentacles are welcome too.

- - - Updated - - -

Sounds like i should move to japan

Unfortunately, most of Japan is fiercely xenophobic. But hey, we can dream ;-)

[THE Bigzoman]

Mmm I think working for some cultural changes is a good idea. As long as they're using carrots instead of sticks its fine.

That said it would be pretty simple to just not be so a bunch of tight asses about immigration instead.

Japan has and always will be ethnocentric.

Immigration alone will not address their problems, nor will maximizing female labor force participation.

They're fucked. This should've been done decades ago.

[Yami]

Japan's... not sure how to put it, social lifestyle? Work ethic?...doesn't really allow time to raise kids unless you're extremely well off. They regularly have work weeks that would be considered illegal in the US. In other words, the country has nobody to blame but itself for creating an environment where nobody wants kids. A lot more than just government-mandated matchmaking will need to take place in order for people to want kids.

They also didn't give many incentives to want to have kids let alone many tax breaks other countries give when having kids. Living in one of the most expensive countries on top of having kids there too makes everything so fucking expensive.

[Cybran]

They should focus on artificial wombs and robots.

[Wildtree]

They're fucked.

No, they're not....... or at least not often enough without birth control.

[Crawclaw]

The problem in Japan isn't just finding someone. It's the overlong workdays meaning you barely have time for relationships. Having to pay for a family you're barely involved in isn't considered an ideal way to spend money by many men, and for good reason. I think Japan just needs to chill a bit with their work expectations and hours.

[Shahad]

The matchmaking won't help. The main reasons Japans has such a terrible birthrate are economic in nature. They need labour-market reforms and they need it right now. It might already be too late to save the situation without mass immigration.

[Cthulhu 2020]

More hentai, less dying to too much WoW?

[Yami]

Unfortunately, most of Japan is fiercely xenophobic. But hey, we can dream ;-)

Some women actually seek out Gaijin since the western features mix well the the Japanese features. Most of the models or Idols you see in Japan are Half. They think it's exotic in Japan but hafus are also shunned as well.

[Jester Joe]

Unfortunately, most of Japan is fiercely xenophobic. But hey, we can dream ;-)

Really? Strange, I talk to someone who was an overseas student for Japan, and she always described it as such a great place and the families she had to stay with were very kind (I mean, I guess they volunteer anyway for it so they would want people to stay anyway?). She never seemed to have an issue.

I mean, not saying you're wrong, just honestly thinking that's strange.

No, they're not....... or at least not often enough without birth control.

Glad someone made the joke for me!

[Deleted]

in a world with a population of 7 billion and rising, Having a state sponsored matchmaking to increase the population is a bad idea.

[Wells]

Really? Strange, I talk to someone who was an overseas student for Japan, and she always described it as such a great place and the families she had to stay with were very kind (I mean, I guess they volunteer anyway for it so they would want people to stay anyway?). She never seemed to have an issue.

I mean, not saying you're wrong, just honestly thinking that's strange.

It depends on where you're from and why you're there. Western student? Awesome. SE Asian immigrant worker? Ugh.

[Shahad]

Really? Strange, I talk to someone who was an overseas student for Japan, and she always described it as such a great place and the families she had to stay with were very kind (I mean, I guess they volunteer anyway for it so they would want people to stay anyway?). She never seemed to have an issue.

I mean, not saying you're wrong, just honestly thinking that's strange.



Glad someone made the joke for me!

I believe Japanese xenophobia is expressed a lot more subtly than most people would be capable of detecting without spending a very long time there. It's a lot more noticeable if you look at how they think of other asians.

[THE Bigzoman]

Really? Strange, I talk to someone who was an overseas student for Japan, and she always described it as such a great place and the families she had to stay with were very kind (I mean, I guess they volunteer anyway for it so they would want people to stay anyway?). She never seemed to have an issue.

I mean, not saying you're wrong, just honestly thinking that's strange.



Glad someone made the joke for me!

Jester,

The japanese are racist as fuck against anyone who isn't japanese.

Like latinos south of us and beyond, they particularly have a dislike towards black people.

[Wells]

in a world with a population of 7 billion and rising, Having a state sponsored matchmaking to increase the population is a bad idea.

Japan's growth rate is below replacement levels.