ABSTRACT
The term “population aging” has become a household word to average citizens in Japan. The age composition of Japan has undergone a very sharp transformation, from a broad-based, youth-heavy population to a more urn-shaped, top-heavy aging population, in a relatively short period of time. On the basis of the vital statistics collected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the total fertility rate in Japan has been lower than the replacement level since 1974. Distinguishing Japan and the surrounding East Asian region from other parts of Asia is the pervasive and deeply rooted doctrine of Confucianism. The role of the Confucianism in Japan is probably comparable to that of Protestantism in Europe at the dawn of industrialization, as depicted by Max Weber. Confucianism emphasizes the ethical value of hard work, asceticism, frugality, and regularity in the daily conduct of life.
