Are the Japanese Risking Extinction?

Japan's Baby Drain: With a plummeting birth rate and a rapidly ageing population, Japan is facing an unprecedented population collapse with vast economic, social and political implications. We explore the dangers facing the nation. For similar stories, see: The Ainu's Tense Relationship with Japan    • The Ainu's Tense Relationship with Japan   Has Japanese Schooling Become Too Rigorous?    • Has Japanese Schooling Become Too Rigorous?   How Japan Has Quietly Re-Asserted Its Military Power    • How Japan Has Quietly Re-Asserted Its Mili...   Subscribe to journeyman for daily uploads: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... For downloads and more information visit: http://www.journeyman.tv/film/5785/ja... Like us on Facebook:   / journeymanpictures   Follow us on Twitter:   / journeymanvod     / journeymannews   Follow us on Instagram:   / journeymanpictures   In bustling Tokyo, there's little sense of an impending crisis, but Japan is facing a demographic time bomb. "Nobody is having babies. The men aren't as hungry for success or for relationships as they were before", says Kaoru Arai. She epitomises the country's new breed of successful and financially independent women that are putting their career first. "I'm picky, yes. I want it all", she smiles. In a desperate move to pull the birth rate back from the brink, the government is offering cash incentives to encourage singles to partner up and procreate. Meanwhile, the elderly are being left behind, with no one to look after them. Japan's seemingly xenophobic reluctance to admit foreign workers means that major companies are now racing to develop robots to help fill the void and support its ageing population. Somewhat desperate measures, which reveal how difficult the problem has become for the government to handle. "This situation cannot continue, we know this very well, but it is still not something that is easily solved." SBS Australia – Ref. 5785 Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about.