Japan is facing existential problems regarding its low birth rate, according to Masako Mori, an aide to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Mori, a lawmaker in the upper house and a former minister, advises the Japanese prime minister on problems with national fertility rates, as well as LGBT issues.
The official said these things in an interview, shortly after the country’s Ministry of Health announced statistical data on deaths and births.
According to the data, a rather bleak picture is painted for her.
Twice as many people died than were born in the country last year with approximately 799,728 registered births compared to 1.58 million deaths.
“If we continue like this, the country will disappear. These are the people who have to live through the process of disappearance who will face enormous harm. This is a terrible disease that will affect these children,”Murray said.
The data continue the trend of population decline that has lasted for a decade, although the birth data will drop below the 800,000 line for the first time already in 2022.
Japan’s population also continues to age, with the median age reported to be around 49 years.
The number of people over the age of 65 reached more than 29% of the population, making Japan the second country in the world with the oldest population – the leader in this category, in case you were wondering, is the European mini-state Monaco.
If the negative trend continues, Japan risks a total collapse of its society, said Mori, who added that the birthrate situation is becoming more and more alarming every year.
“It doesn’t fall gradually, it falls straight down”.said
“If nothing is done, the social security system will collapse, the industrial and economic power will decrease, and there will not be enough recruits for the self-defense forces to protect the country.”
The worrying words echo the words of Murray’s boss at the end of February.
At the time, Prime Minister Kishida described the birthrate situation as an urgent risk to Japanese society.
He committed to additional spending to stimulate childbirth such as increasing child benefits.
“Japan is on the brink of questioning whether we can continue to function as a society.”said then
“Focusing attention on policies concerning children and raising children is an issue that cannot wait and cannot be postponed”, he concluded.