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A panel discussion on Japan's population problems is presented. Issues of fertility rates, number of births per woman, declining number of children and increasing number of senior citizens, are becoming major issues in Japan. A minimum fertility rate of 2.08 is required to sustain the population. However, the country recorded a 1.57 rate in 1989. The causes for this decline are discussed and the measures that can help in reversing the trend are suggested.

There are a number of reasons why Japan's birth rate continues to go down. The fertility rate in 1996 was 1.43% but dropped further to 1.39% in 1997. One of the reasons is the shift in Japanese society from a group-oriented to an individual-oriented lifestyle. There is also a weakening of social and cultural norms over the issue of having children in Japan. The rising costs of child care and childbirth plus the lack of affordable housing are forcing Japanese individuals to marry later.

There are three survival strategies for the revival of metropolitan and provincial regions alike. The creation of advanced consumption sites, establishment of local resources linked to local consumption, and use of age group's savings to cover age group benefits, are guaranteed to promote regional development.

The article is focused on the aging of the population of Japan as forecasted by economic trends. Baby boom generation and generation X are the ones greatly affected by these trends. Income gap, marriage gap, sexless marriages and other factors that contributed to the decline in population growth are enumerated.

The decline in the population of Japan is crucial because of its major impact in economic capacity. Population is undeniably the most important factor in a country's national and economic capacity. An analysis of the Japan Center for Economic Research on demographic trends and economic growth is discussed.

The results of a survey on Japan's baby-boom generation are presented. The implications of the retirement of the baby-boomers in 2008 on the Japanese society and economy are speculated.

The factors responsible for decline in population growth in Japan are analyzed. The importance of enabling women to return to full time jobs after child birth and the need for adding employment opportunities for elderly people is highlighted.