A Twitter post trended on comment forums in Japan, sparking intense debate about perceptions and trends in marriage in the country. The tweet in question states: “I think it is fair to say that the number of marriages has decreased not because there are more women with higher aspirations, but because women are now willing to endure marriage.“.

The comment comes as a record proportion of men and women in Japan say they do not intend to marry, a trend that experts warn will undermine efforts to tackle the country's demographic crisis. According to a survey, 17.31% of men and 14.61% of women aged 18 to 34 said they never intended to get married, the highest number since the survey was first conducted in 1982.

The decline in marriages has had consequences for Japan's birth rate as the country faces the prospect of dramatic depopulation and a shrinking workforce and economy. Experts attribute this trend to several factors, including a growing desire among young working women to enjoy the freedoms that come with being single and having a career. Men also express pleasure in being single, but they also show concerns about job security and their ability to support a family.

Experts have urged the government to make it easier for women to return to work after having children and address Japan's infamously long working hours. When asked what constitutes an “ideal” lifestyle for women, nearly 40% of single men surveyed and 34% of single women cited the ability to balance a career with raising children.

• «In the past, women became economically dependent on men because they were not educated, and almost all men were assigned to women to maintain the population. Now it is possible for women to live a life that is not subordinate to men. They have been freed from the spell».
• «I believe that it is more difficult for women to have to work after marriage, embarrassment and childbirth, and they continue to work with domestic tasks and care for children, because marriage has become hell for them. I want to tell the generation about to get married that they should choose a spouse who can share the household chores and childcare.».
• «It's a good time. It's brilliant.».
• «Mistakes. The number of marriages has decreased because there are more and more women who do not know how to manage their own selfishness and are not well educated. Tailor-made marriage is necessary for society.».
• «It may be good on an individual level and in the short term, but it is harmful in the long term and socially.».
• «I think the number of marriages has decreased because Japan has become poorer. Because statistics show that “men with higher incomes are more married and men with lower incomes are more single”. I think it is “more people with low incomes -> fewer marriages”».
• «If we reduce women to poverty, so that they have to marry men to survive, the number of marriages will increase. This cannot be done in the modern world, so developed countries will undoubtedly have a declining birth rate and an aging population. There is no way around it.».
• «That's actually it. People today find marriage and children unattractive. There are plenty of other fun things to do. People in the country have lots of children because there's no entertainment around. That's why».
• «In the past, the usual threat to women was that they would lose the opportunity to marry, but perhaps it was men who really needed to marry.».
• «Men don't need to force themselves to get married either. The time when everyone was married was abnormal.».

Source: Esuteru Blog