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Editorial opinion regarding "whys" for low-birth rates in Japan and what we'd typically call "household formation" in the United States: Japan had a giant prop

Editorial opinion regarding "whys" for low-birth rates in Japan and what we'd typically call "household formation" in the United States: Japan had a giant property bubble and economic collapse a few decades ago, creating a "lost generation." Off-topic, it is an interesting way to see aspects of America's future with many common factors. Socially: From the Japanese men side the picture, there are many news stories of "herbivore men" that are not initiating or engaging women for dating, sex, etc. Women that can afford to do so, end up hiring male "hosts" at host bars for their (non-sexual) social company. Culturally: Many Japanese women would prefer to be full-time parents and homemakers, exiting the workforce after having children. This requires a husband/partner with stable employment and income. Many Japanese women would also prefer partners to be at home more often than the well-known grueling "salaryman" experience in Japanese corporate business culture. Economically: Japan recently reported record inflation levels over several decades where wages have not kept up. In some cases companies will be raising salary levels in response, but the vast majority of people working are not in roles or at companies to see this. The minimum wage level in Tokyo is approximately 1,070 yen/hr or around $8.25 USD/hr. Basic hourly wages at a common ramen or gyu-don type restaurant in Tokyo pay around 1,200 yen/hr. The impact of the lot generation weighs in heavily here. Demographically: If you walk around the streets of Tokyo, you'll probably observe that there are many people of older age working simple jobs marshaling car traffic from garages, street crossings, street/utility maintenance, and cleaning sidewalks, streets, train stations. There often appears to be many more people working than the minimum needed. Automation technology in areas, such as food production, end ip creating a surplus of labor elsewhere. TL;DR: Dating as a whole is occurring less often between Japanese men and women. Economically, traditional households are not forming because people cannot afford to support the traditionally desired lifestyle where Japanese women become full-time parents and homemakers after parenthood.

Dalewyn 4y ago
>Many Japanese women would prefer to be full-time parents and homemakers, exiting the workforce after having children. This also plays a significant negative role in women workforce share. In Japan, it is customary for full-time employees to work their entire career through retirement at a single company. Companies in turn invest in their employees, expecting them to return that investment over the coming 50~60 years. Men are generally fine with this arrangement, even today, but this throws a spanner when it comes to women. As far as companies are concerned, if a woman is going to leave in less than 10 years, maybe even just a few years, after the company invested time and resources training them, then they would rather hire a man who will stay with them for his entire career. So this results in two things: Women continue to form a small minority of the workforce, and the women who do manage to stay are either single or otherwise managed to find a precarious balance between work and private life. Maybe Japan needs working reform, but working women aren't entirely compatible with being a good Japanese housewife.
- gramie 4y ago
  > it is customary for full-time employees to work their entire career through retirement at a single company This has never been universally true, and today it is less common than ever. According to the Japan times, 8.8% of Japanese companies offer lifetime employment.
lp4vn 4y ago
>TL;DR: Dating as a whole is occurring less often between Japanese men and women. Economically, traditional households are not forming because people cannot afford to support the traditionally desired lifestyle where Japanese women become full-time parents and homemakers after parenthood. I hate resorting to stereotypes, but it looks like that after a certain age(I don't want to use the magic word boom*r), people are completely blind to any argument that takes in account the most obvious reason for which people behave like they behave: their economic condition. People can't afford to raise a traditional family even with well paid jobs? This is irrelevant, the main reason people are not raising families the old way is because of tiktok and avocado toasts.
majikaja 4y ago
Clarification: women who want a deadbeat guy that will pimp them out if he can (but looks like a Final Fantasy character) go to host clubs
Larrikin 4y ago
The majority of women that frequent host bars are hostesses themselves. It's an expensive hobby and not something most women would choose over just making the approach to talk to a guy or just hang out with their friends or some kind of social club.

Dalewyn 4y ago

>Many Japanese women would prefer to be full-time parents and homemakers, exiting the workforce after having children. This also plays a significant negative role in women workforce share. In Japan, it is customary for full-time employees to work their entire career through retirement at a single company. Companies in turn invest in their employees, expecting them to return that investment over the coming 50~60 years. Men are generally fine with this arrangement, even today, but this throws a spanner when it comes to women. As far as companies are concerned, if a woman is going to leave in less than 10 years, maybe even just a few years, after the company invested time and resources training them, then they would rather hire a man who will stay with them for his entire career. So this results in two things: Women continue to form a small minority of the workforce, and the women who do manage to stay are either single or otherwise managed to find a precarious balance between work and private life. Maybe Japan needs working reform, but working women aren't entirely compatible with being a good Japanese housewife.

gramie 4y ago
> it is customary for full-time employees to work their entire career through retirement at a single company This has never been universally true, and today it is less common than ever. According to the Japan times, 8.8% of Japanese companies offer lifetime employment.

lp4vn 4y ago

>TL;DR: Dating as a whole is occurring less often between Japanese men and women. Economically, traditional households are not forming because people cannot afford to support the traditionally desired lifestyle where Japanese women become full-time parents and homemakers after parenthood. I hate resorting to stereotypes, but it looks like that after a certain age(I don't want to use the magic word boom*r), people are completely blind to any argument that takes in account the most obvious reason for which people behave like they behave: their economic condition. People can't afford to raise a traditional family even with well paid jobs? This is irrelevant, the main reason people are not raising families the old way is because of tiktok and avocado toasts.

majikaja 4y ago

Clarification: women who want a deadbeat guy that will pimp them out if he can (but looks like a Final Fantasy character) go to host clubs

Larrikin 4y ago

The majority of women that frequent host bars are hostesses themselves. It's an expensive hobby and not something most women would choose over just making the approach to talk to a guy or just hang out with their friends or some kind of social club.