Major findings from the opinion survey on population issues in Japan
Atoh, M.; Kaneko, T.; Suzuki, T.
Jinko Mondai Kenkyu 47(2): 1-28
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0387-2793 PMID: 12155019 Document Number: 255782
Recently, Japan has experienced such dramatic demographic changes as the sharp decline in fertility, a steep rise in the proportion of single youth, a decelerating population, and accelerated population aging. The Institute of Population Problems held an opinion survey on population issues in Japan for the 1st time in June 1990. This representative sample of persons aged 20-69 polled. Results included the following. There are very few single youth who reject the concept of marriage entirely. The increase in the proportion of single youth is attributable to postponement of marriage for purposes of continuing education, especially among women, and an increase in job opportunities, also mostly for women. Women are also more critical towards traditional marriage and the family. There is also a conspicuous gap between the number of children desired and what society deems appropriate for population replacement. While the average number of children for couples is 2.2, the majority believe that 3 children is the ideal for Japanese families. Whereas people believe low fertility and its resulting population aging are undesirable, they believe that Japan is overpopulated and that the prospect of a decline in population there is desirable. Such a contrast in attitude seems to reflect both their insecure feelings about their own future as Japan's elderly and their complaints about overcrowding that they face everyday. Those who regard fertility decline as undesirable believe it is natural for the government to take action to encourage fertility. Those who regard the prospect of population decline or population aging as unpleasant are also ready to accept pronatalist policies rather than the massive introduction of a foreign labor force into Japan. As for concrete measures to encourage fertility, such economic and fiscal policies s reducing the economic burden for childbearing and housing policies which favor newlyweds are desired. (author's modified)