Japan’s Population Dwindling – Down to 87 Million by 2060

A nationwide survey shows the population of Japan now at 127 million is likely to drop to mere 87 million by 2060. 89% of the people polled in the survey say "it's deadly serious".

The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's top (Guiness) national newspaper with the world's largest circulation (9,345,155 to be exact), bared the results of a dual-response opinion poll made late July through August. Asked "What bothers you most", 84% say Japan's social security system will be in a jeopardy and 68% fear workforce will no longer support the country's economic life. 59% say the whole nation will lose vitality.

Japan's total population, now 126.16 million, is estimated to decrease to 115 million by 2030 and 87 million by 2060. In the Metropolitan area alone a slight increase (0.27%) was registered but in other industrial areas,  Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara) and Chubu (Gifu, Aichi and Mie) population decrease is conspicuous enough. 76% of those polled agree with the government that Japan' population be somehow kept above 100 million. 

There is no doubt Japan's population is aging and fertility rate falling and analyses and researches are being done circling over these points. But, no one seems certain why the population is falling and what causes it all. 

Hon. Professorr. Akihito Matsutani, an expert on population decrease, argues that arguments over fertility rate and aging do not really hit the "nail on the head". "The problem is often discussed from the points of view of aging and falling fertility rate alone, and in my opinion  that is not accurate enough", stresses Prof. Matsutani. He points out that most countries in the west have experienced "aging"  at one time or another but the trend has always been gradual and that as regards population some are experiencing "uprises".

"Population decrease, therefore, is not much of a subject of heated argument", concludes Prof. Matsutani. It may not be "deadly serious" after all?