[Tom4784]

It comes down to a few factors really, the working day is too punishing in Japan to such an extent that death from overworking is an epidemic there and has it's own term (Karōshi) so a lot of people can't be bothered and, like the article said, the situation for women in Japan is awful.

I think another aspect is that a lot of Japanese media tends to push chasteness as an attractive option (while at the same time having this whole other weird side of bizarre sexual kinks and **** that's just beyond the pale), there's always been criticism about shows aimed at teenagers in our society pushing sex too much but I think Japan's an example of the opposite side of the coin in that regard. If you have a slew of media aimed at teenagers and older audience that has an almost primary take on romance then I think that will rub off on the populace if it's promoted as the ideal take on relationships.

If Japan wants to overcome this downward population curve, they need to make relationships sustainable through economic means, get work hours in check and make work situations less hostile to women. They also really need to push to modernise a lot of their archaic idea of idealised families.

Japan's a country I've always wanted to visit but it's always been a place I'd hate to live in.