Japan's population continues to shrink, with the decline most visible in rural towns. From Akita to Aomori, entire communities are disappearing as young people move to cities, birthrates drop, and farmland lies idle. Local governments are trying everything from cash incentives and matchmaking events to digital 'hometown' registries, but progress remains slow.
In Japan Today Spotlight #42, the episode delves into Japan's rural depopulation crisis. The population free fall is stark in rural areas, driven by young people's exodus to cities for better opportunities. The government struggles to reverse declining birthrates and idle farmland issues.
The video examines why youth leave rural towns, questioning if matchmaking events can revive countryside communities through love. It discusses whether migrants could fill labor gaps, especially as Japan's food self-sufficiency rate stands at 38%.
Efforts to make rural life appealing again include innovation like automation and renewable energy on unused land. The outro ponders if Japan can save its countryside in the next 50 years, weighing immigration and technology as potential saviors.
User comments reflect divided views: some see depopulation as a natural leveling for sustainability, easing urban pressures, while others criticize government failures and urban overconcentration. Balanced perspectives highlight the need for proactive planning to avoid social disruption.