Easing Japan's tread mill

Suvendrini Kakuchi over at Asia Times writes about two new books with insights about the low birtrate in Japan: Easing Japan's tread mill


Akiko Matsutani: Shrinking Population Economics
Manabu Akagawa: What's wrong with Fewer Kids

Quotes:

"My research shows that Japan has to accept a low fertility rate, which will lessen its economic status but, at the same time, allow people to create a balance in their lives and be happier than now," said professor Akiko Matsutani, a population expert at the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (...)

Matsutani predicts that Japan would have to import 20 million migrants to take on low-paying factory jobs that support the profits of some companies such as the automobile giants so that they can maintain their leadership.

"Japan cannot be an economic leader anymore," he said. "Rather, to survive in the global economy, Japan will have to import skilled foreigners in the way the United States does. That would result in a system where the average Japanese will have jobs demanding less work."

Ehh, Japanese people working less? You mean, taking long holidays, fixing the roof over at the besso, going fishing, and - taking it easy?? Maybe even joining that NGO that tries to save the local river, or spending quality time with the kids? That will be the day!

How about joining the Japanese NGO The Sloth Club where "slow is beautiful" since 1999. The website even has a Sloth Forum - but it is under construction! Since 1999! Well done!!

(Photo of a rice field offering from Ken-ichi Shiota's delightful website with kids at festivals all over Japan - Two-toed sloth from Galeri Savci, an excellent Czech page about "mammalia"!)