Japanese pundits bemoan the number of young single women still living with their parents.
Japan circa 2000 is being called Parasaito Shinguru no Jidai, or the Age of the Parasite Single. And to Japanese demographers, it might as well be. The phrase comes from the title of a recent best-seller by Tokyo Gakugei University professor Masahiro Yamada. Aside from the moralists who think these kids are world-class slackers, the government sees the trend as a big reason behind Japan's declining birth rate. Co. Unless more young Japanese choose marriage and child rearing, the theory goes, Japan will face some tough choices.