Declining birth rate change no birth and an aging population

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First

We often hear the phrase, ‘declining birth rate and an aging population’ for a few decades. Nowadays, such phrase is now replaced to another, ‘no birth and an aging population’

 There‘re also cases where family members are extremely few recently due to the declining birth rate and aging population. Some families say ‘We have no children’ or ‘the youngest child in my family is mid-40s and have no kids’, we often hear nowadays.
Regarding no birth and an aging population in Japan, it’s a serious problem to the extent that the government should issue an emergency declaration about it.

Quotation：日本の「無子高齢化」は、政府が非常事態宣言を出すべき深刻度

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少子高齢化から無子高齢化にならないためには…

Question

You can hear a conversation between two people after you play the sound. Answer the questions about the conversation.

Sound 

Conversation

Long time no see. Where do you live now and what do you do?

I live in Tokyo. I’m a housewife, but I’m thinking to register to an agency for a job next month.

You used to say that you wanted to find a good partner, get married and be a housewife as soon as possible. So, when did you get married? Why do you want to work as a contractual employee instead of being a housewife again? Are you bored since you’re at home all day?

I got married two years ago. I told you I wanted to get married until 30 years old, but I couldn’t do it until 35 since I focused on the guy who is handsome and is financially stable. Finally, I got married to a guy at the office that I worked. However, his salary is also low since he also works as a contractual employee. Then he tried to find a job as a regular employee, but couldn’t. Therefore, I decided to work again since it’s hard to survive with only his salary.

I see. It’s difficult to work as a regular employee nowadays. Besides, it’s rare for regular employees to get salary appraisal. By the way, do you have children?

No, I don’t have. I can’t raise my children since we can only take care of ourselves. In addition, leaving our kids in a nursery is not an option because there are only a few nursery schools these days. That would make us difficult to survive since I can’t go to work. Although I want children, but now it still remains as a dream.

Yeah. It’s difficult to raise children due to economic issues in Japan. We used to use the phrase, ‘birth rate and an aging population’. But now, we are gradually getting to use the phrase, ‘no birth and an aging population’ instead since younger generation can’t make children even if they want to nowadays.

How about you, Tetsuya? Did you get married?

No. I’m single, not a regular employee. I’m not confident of taking care of my wife, what more my children. Although I prefer younger girls, however they still expect that us men still earn as much as we did 20-30 years ago. The situation is much different now. They still say ‘I will marry a guy whose salary is over 10 million yen a year’, don’t they? I can’t.

It’s not. The number of men who works as contractual employees has been increasing. We often hear that the salary won’t raise even for regular employees. So, younger girls don’t want so much now. They say ‘Love is more important than money’.

Wow. I see. By the way, do they have desired salary? How much?

I think it’s over 7 million yen.

… (Silence)

Question

1. What does Keiko do most likely?
A. contractual employee
B. homemaker
C. regular employee
D. part-time employee

2. What could happen if Keiko has children?
A. Her father will be delighted to see his grandchildren.
B. She’ll suffer from financial problems for hiring a babysitter.
C. She could not go to work.
D. Her friend will give her a baby stroller.

3. What is NOT mainly discussed in the article?
A. Keiko got married when she was over 30 years old.
B. Keiko and Tetsuya were both contractual employees.
C. We’re getting to use the phrase, ‘no birth and an aging population’ since younger generation don’t give birth.
D. Keiko doesn’t want to give birth.

Answer and Explanation

1.
Answer：B
Homemaker is another term for housewife.
A is the past or future job. Now, it’s homemaker.
C and D are not mentioned in this article.

2.
Answer：C
The article mentioned that ‘we can’t leave our children in nursery due to few nursery schools.
A and B are only possibilities in the future, but they’re not mentioned in this article.
D is also a possibility but was not mentioned in the article either.

3.
Answer：D
She said that ‘I want my children’.
A: It’s right. She said I couldn’t do it until 35 years old.
B: It’s right. He said I’m single, not a regular employee.
C: It’s right. He said we are gradually getting to use the phrase, ‘no birth and an aging population’.

Let’s talk more!

What do you think about no birth and an aging population?
Let’s talk about it with your friend.
How is the situation in other countries?
Ask your teacher or a foreigner about it.

Example

1. Do you think the era, ‘no birth and an aging population’ will come?

2. How to stop the changing?

3. What do you think is the situation in other countries?