The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-26
ISLAND is TIGHT
Increase in Birth Rate a Real
Worry for Japan.
Mouths to Feed Increase 724,-
6O9 in One Year.

Toxic. Dec. 26.-Japanese publica-
tons and statesmen are debating the
population and expansion problem
agains with all the vigor of old; yet
for the most part il is ia a newer light
and with greater cognizance of tile
real problem and the place to find the
solution The reason for this new out
burst = publication of the vital Statls-
tics for 1921. which show that in
twelve months the number OF mouths
TO be fed by the island empire in
creased by exactly 724.6O9.
That is a growth of 1881 to\ 1000.
an increase OF I.59 to the 1000 OF
births over deaths for 1921 The in
crease over 1920 comes not from the
fact that more children were born last
wear. but from the fact that tOtal
deaths declined most. the birth rate
also declining. Births total 2,O31,1O3-
1.03S.25O boys and 992-Sj8 Eirls-a
decline OF IL from the 1920 birth
rate Deaths totaled 1.3O6,494. de-
crease from the previous year of 2.12
Birth Rate Grows.
Since 1897 the, average birth rate
for Japan is still more THAI 80 to l.
0O0-a nation whose boundaries are
Iimited-increasing at the rate of near
~ three-qUarters Of a million an
nually. Unable longer to send the
comparatively few willing to leave
Japan to Australia and California and
realizing that expansion on a large
scale on the Asiatic mainland is impos-
sible because the temperate climes are
already teeming with a population
which in actual competition underbids
and outworks the Japanese and be-
cause the northern districts are too
cold to be popular with the warmth
loving Nipponese. the press and some
public figures are beginning TO face
the problem squarely and fairly. They
are beginning to see the problem in
new light While not yet generally ac-
cepted there is an increasing tendency
TO admit that this is an internal prob
lem-One that Japan must solve un-
aided.
Industry Inevitable.
Business leaders have attempted
since the opening of Japan to prevent
this country from becoming a strictly
industrial nation. But. with half OF
Japan consisting OF poor. mountainous
land. which will support no one. but
Yet which contains world of hnde-
veIoped water power. that end is in
evitable. Industries here are growing
slowly, mainly because of general
business tactics and lack of sworld
business sense. The faster rice fields
are turned into factory grounds eeo~
nomically operated by power from the
mountains the more viii il aid the ma
tion to feed its fast multiplying
mouths.
Distastefui as il sounds. Japan has
a real need for birth control. Most
Of the younger, well-educated people
are beginning TO see this. but they are
outnumber~d by those who don't
Fight Birth Control.
Just recently a birth promotion
organization was formed. its object
being to get government assistance to
prevent the birth rate from declining.
THIS association advocates that all
s-Sl whose family includes three or
more children be exempt from income
tax and that the father be given a subj
sidy to enable him to properly rear
and educate every child after the fifth.
Some other vital figures included
IN the 1921 census report are interest
ing. Divorces were practically the
only thing that increased, numbering
102.S TO the 1000. while marriages
We're 9-14 to 1 900. n decrease of 9.76.
This is not as startling as one would
think at first. considering the eco
nomic depression in Japan, which at
tained its worst in 1921, and also con-
sidering the fact that all one has to
do to secure a divorce is to go to the
city office and have the records
changed, after showing some good rea-
son. which, in practice, is easy TO do,