社会･世の中のことIt is unfortunate that some male politicians in this country have no respect for women. It is a pitiful reality of Japan. No wonder why Japan's birth rate is low.
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BBC NEWS Jan. 27, 2007 Japan women called child machines
Japanese children are fewer and further between
Japan's health minister has referred to women as "birth-giving machines" in a speech to a local political meeting.
Hakuo Yanagisawa called for women to do their best to bear children in order to counter Japan's plummeting birth rate and rapidly ageing population.
"Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can ask for is for them to do their best per head," he said.
He added: "Although it may not be so appropriate to call them machines."
Recent figures show that Japanese fertility fell to an average of just 1.26 children per woman in 2005.
Last year saw a slight rise for the first time in six years, but the country still faces a long-term trend that may see a 30% drop in the population in the next 50 years.
A rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain population levels.
Japan has the world's highest ratio of elderly to young people.
The trend raises serious concerns about the country's future economic growth and how it can fund its pensions.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to bring in policies that will tackle the falling birth rate.
His recent draft budget sought to increase support for child-care services.
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女性は「産む機械、装置」 松江市で柳沢厚労相
柳沢伯夫厚生労働相は２７日、松江市で開かれた自民県議の決起集会で、「産む機械、装置の数は決まっているから、あとは一人頭で頑張ってもらうしかない」と女性を機械に例えて少子化問題を解説した。
柳沢氏は「これからの年金・福祉・医療の展望について」と題し約３０分間講演。出生率の低下に言及し「機械って言っちゃ申し訳ないけど」「機械って言ってごめんなさいね」との言葉を挟みながら、「１５−５０歳の女性の数は決まっている。産む機械、装置の数は決まっているから、あとは一人頭で頑張ってもらうしかない」と述べた。
厚労省は昨年１２月、人口推計を下方修正。この時、柳沢氏は「子どもを持ちたいという若い人たちは多い。その希望に応えられるよう、できる限りの努力をしていきたい」と話していた。
（共同）
（2007年01月27日 20時54分）
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The comment like the above does not encourage women to have babies.
Thinking about women and babies reminded me of a woman who had 15 babies in my town. She is a friend of my grandma.
When people talk about her, they talk a lot about her husband and family.
"She was healthy. (I assume that her husband was healthy, too.)
She had a rich husband. (This implies her whole family was financially well-off.)
Her husband loved children.
Her husband was a loving and caring person.
Her husband was a thoughtful person.
Her husband was a hard working businessman
Her husband taught children at home.
Her family was a landowner.
Her family members including relatives were helpful to each other..."
I hope that politicians of this country would stop thinking that it is the women's solo responsibility to rise the birth rate of this country.
*************************************************
BBC NEWS Jan. 27, 2007 Japan women called child machines
Japanese children are fewer and further between
Japan's health minister has referred to women as "birth-giving machines" in a speech to a local political meeting.
Hakuo Yanagisawa called for women to do their best to bear children in order to counter Japan's plummeting birth rate and rapidly ageing population.
"Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can ask for is for them to do their best per head," he said.
He added: "Although it may not be so appropriate to call them machines."
Recent figures show that Japanese fertility fell to an average of just 1.26 children per woman in 2005.
Last year saw a slight rise for the first time in six years, but the country still faces a long-term trend that may see a 30% drop in the population in the next 50 years.
A rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain population levels.
Japan has the world's highest ratio of elderly to young people.
The trend raises serious concerns about the country's future economic growth and how it can fund its pensions.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to bring in policies that will tackle the falling birth rate.
His recent draft budget sought to increase support for child-care services.
************************************************
女性は「産む機械、装置」 松江市で柳沢厚労相
柳沢伯夫厚生労働相は２７日、松江市で開かれた自民県議の決起集会で、「産む機械、装置の数は決まっているから、あとは一人頭で頑張ってもらうしかない」と女性を機械に例えて少子化問題を解説した。
柳沢氏は「これからの年金・福祉・医療の展望について」と題し約３０分間講演。出生率の低下に言及し「機械って言っちゃ申し訳ないけど」「機械って言ってごめんなさいね」との言葉を挟みながら、「１５−５０歳の女性の数は決まっている。産む機械、装置の数は決まっているから、あとは一人頭で頑張ってもらうしかない」と述べた。
厚労省は昨年１２月、人口推計を下方修正。この時、柳沢氏は「子どもを持ちたいという若い人たちは多い。その希望に応えられるよう、できる限りの努力をしていきたい」と話していた。
（共同）
（2007年01月27日 20時54分）
********************************************************
The comment like the above does not encourage women to have babies.
Thinking about women and babies reminded me of a woman who had 15 babies in my town. She is a friend of my grandma.
When people talk about her, they talk a lot about her husband and family.
"She was healthy. (I assume that her husband was healthy, too.)
She had a rich husband. (This implies her whole family was financially well-off.)
Her husband loved children.
Her husband was a loving and caring person.
Her husband was a thoughtful person.
Her husband was a hard working businessman
Her husband taught children at home.
Her family was a landowner.
Her family members including relatives were helpful to each other..."
I hope that politicians of this country would stop thinking that it is the women's solo responsibility to rise the birth rate of this country.
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