Birthrates in Japan and U.S. cause for concern
Since public schools in Japan are funded on a per-pupil basis, the continuous decline in the birthrate means they will be hard pressed to maintain their level of services.
Number of children in Japan declines for 35th straight year to hit record low
Manifesting a seemingly unstoppable decline in births, the number of children aged 14 or under fell for the 35th straight year to a record-low 16.05 million as of April 1, government estimates showed Wednesday. The number was down 150,000 from a year earlier to the ...
Physician-turned-politician works to bring doctors to rural Japan
Tomonori Kiyoyama, 34, was once a promising, elite physician. A graduate of the prestigious University of Tokyo's medical school, he also studied in the United States. But he turned to politics five years ago and is now using that platform to try to attract ...
Life good, clean, prosperous in Japan's backup capital of Osaka in 2060
Imagine, if you will, Japan in 2060. Against all odds, the country has accomplished the goal set out nearly a half century before by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to keep the population from dropping below 100 million. Before the Abe government took action way back ...
School principal defends controversial remarks about women and childbirth
A public school principal who recently made controversial remarks calling on women to bear and raise children rather than pursue careers defended his words Tuesday, saying he has not directly heard any complaints from students or parents. "I have yet to confirm whether anyone was ...
Japan sees record high number of foreign residents: Justice Ministry
The number of foreign residents reaches an all-time high in 2015 at 2.23 million, according to the Justice Ministry.
The latest census confirms that the population is on the decline, and the government needs to get cracking on ways to keep the nation viable in the decades to come.
Census confirms population shrinkage, vote-value disparities
The 2015 census is the first to confirm Japan is shrinking, but it also shows why the value of people’s votes is being warped nationwide.
Japan and its birth rate: the beginning of the end or just a new beginning?
Despite demographic doomsayers, Japan could be ripe for a gender revolution that boosts its birth rate.
Promise of clever children in year of monkey may boost births in China
Those born in the year of the monkey are said to be crafty, clever and charming. That has spurred some couples in China to delay parenthood until the less-auspicious sheep year ends — a balm for companies offering fertility products and obstetric services. The change ...
Coming of Age day should be an opportunity for everyone in Japan to reflect on the meaning and importance of adulthood.
2015 census saw populations fall in disaster-hit Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate prefectures
The populations of three northeastern prefectures hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami logged declines in the 2015 national census, preliminary results of the survey conducted every five years showed Tuesday. As of Oct. 1 last year, the populations dropped 5.7 percent in Fukushima, ...
