I believe the issue lies in the way the Japanese approach life. I heard there is a certain unwritten rule in Japan, where a man is supposed to get a regular job after he completes his graduation and failing to get a job will result in him being considered as a failure. Troubled young men find in very tough to get a steady, well paid job, nowadays in Japan

Moreover with women entering the workforce, it becomes extremely difficult for men to find work. In Japan, Men have traditionally been bread winners and have taken care of the family, lack of steady jobs will change the mindset of men to go against marriage as they and their partners wont be able to run the family.

I think the population of Japan is shrinking because of economic insecurity. Most of the people of Japan do irregular jobs, they work in multiple part time jobs where there are low wages and less benefits.

Japanese culture gives importance to men as breadwinners , and with unstable jobs and economic insecurity, they are not considered eligible for marriage and even if there are couples with irregular jobs willing to get married, their parents will not allow then to do so.

In this country, hard work and long hours are an accepted trend.It is even considered rude to leave work before your superiors leave. People who usually crib about long hours do not get sympathy from their close ones.

As such Japanese men are totally stressed and harldy find time to meet women. I also read somehwere that the women there are always complaining about not able to find a suitable match and hence are looking for an alliance in other countries.

In a deteriorating economy and with the workcorce getting less, there should be changes made to the immigration laws and people from other countries should be allowed to work in Japan.