In Japan, the Philosophical Stance Against Having Children

Japan is experiencing one of the world's lowest birth rates, with the total fertility rate dropping to 1.26 children per woman in 2023.

This decline reflects broader societal shifts, including delayed marriages, high costs of child-rearing, and changing attitudes toward family.

While some attribute this trend to economic pressures, anthropologist Jack Jiang's research highlights a deeper philosophical movement called anti-natalism, where individuals consciously choose not to have children based on moral or existential reasoning rather than financial constraints.

This movement challenges the assumption that parenthood is a universal or inevitable life goal, instead framing childbearing as a deliberate ethical decision with far-reaching consequences for society and the environment.