It is sad to know that Japan, one of the highly industrialized countries in the world, produce more quality and fuel-efficient cars than children. As such, it baby boomers are increasing fast more than it expected. With the fast pace of industrialization and the constricting space that Japan experience at the moment, people are left without a better choice but make do with whatever they can to survive in a dog-eat-dog competition such as that of Japan.
Sometimes, many people are puzzled if the impacts of progress has something to do with population growth? If it does, then we can say that indeed it is true as what is happening right now, not only in Japan, but other developed countries like the U.S. and other Scandinavian countries for that matter. Mind you, these countries have the highest standards of living. Alone, keeping the basic needs of the families is all it takes to keep oneself very busy to survive. And living in Japan is so expensive and no ordinary workers can ill-afford to make both ends meet if you don’t have enough income.
Perhaps, the problem that most Japanese face today impinges on life’s priorities. Simply put, the reason could be that many of hard working Japanese are extremely aware on the importance of having children to rear as they grow old. But the idea doesn’t seem to get in the way as they toil each day to work. As the saying goes: "Work with no play makes a dull man." For them., raising a family could also mean more money to spend on children’s basic needs like education, food, clothings and others. With prices of real estate rising every year, the Japanese workers don’t seem to be convinced that having a family of their own is needed at this time. Time may have overran their interests to get married because they feel that work is more important than having a family.
But for the neighboring developing countries, Japan’s population crisis may be a boon. With more than enough elderly to take care of, the Japanese government will have no option but to open its doors to foreign medical workers who can provide medical services to their aging population. Previously, Japan has signed a commitment from Asean-member countries that it would open its doors soon, especially to medical practitioners to come into Japan and practice their profession there. At least, this will balance the tide of international migration to other developed countries because the attention of would-be immigrants would now be concentrated to nearby Japan, instead of the U.S., Australia, New Zealand or Europe.
Right now, the battle for competency is gearing up between India, Thailand, the Philippines and other Asean-member nations whose medical professionals are competent enough to hurdle the odds awaiting for them at the doors of Japan.