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Population shrinkage in Japan started over three years ago, Japans population as of 08' stands at 127 million. The government estimates a drop of roughly a third of this number - and within a century two thirds of the population will be gone. That would leave Japan with roughly 42 million people a century from now. ( 100yrs ) Japans workforce would shrink even faster tys to the lack of childern under 15yrs old, whose numbers have fallen for over 26 consecutive years and now reflect about 13.6 per cent of population.
Within 20yrs the workforce will have shrunk by 10 percent according to Goldman Sachs. Pls note how pension and health care programs work and long before any of these numbers are realized Japan will cease to function as a 21 st century nation. Hidenori Sakanaka former head of Tokoyo Immigration Bureau and present head of Japan Immigration Policy Institute lays the blame squarely on Japans 'Immigration Policy'. Japan simply put, needs about 10 million new human beings ( immigration ) at least over the next decade. Any discussion about women in Japans culture at this late stage addressing Japans present demographic challenge is simply 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.'