On Feb 14, 2012, at 1:48 PM, SSJ-Forum Moderator wrote:

> From: Greg Johnson
> Date: 2012/02/13
>
>> We all know what it takes to increase the
population:
>> massive investments in education (including totally
free education
>> up to and including public universities), massive
investments in
>> child care support structures so that couples can
have more than 2
>> children without one partner (usually the women)
loosing any
>> opportunities to a career.
>
> I agree. Of course, one more solution that is less
fiscally
> burdensome would be to increase immigration, if
people can be found
> who want to live in Japan.
> Immigration is the answer that few dare speak of in
Japan.

Immigration is not an answer to the demographic problem.

And it is unlikely to be less fiscally burdensome even in the short term.

Think about language teaching to adults, savings sent abroad instead of being consumed locally, and of course the educational investment required when immigrants will put their kids in school. Plus, why would immigrants want to come to Japan ? What are the incentives ?

But I find it striking that just like the immigration option is not mentioned, the one I mentioned is not either, just as if giving birth was a part of the deal of being a Japanese.

We must remember that it is not so long ago that a minister made disparaging comments about women who had the "duty" to give birth.

Jean-Christophe Helary=