Tokyo prelate warns against marginalizing elderly as birthrate declines

The Archbishop of Tokyo urged for an “interaction between the younger and older generations” and warned against the growing marginalization of the elderly, as Japan grapples with a rapidly declining birthrate and aging population.

Sep 16, 2024

Related News

Elderly people work out with wooden dumb-bells in the grounds of a temple in Tokyo on September 21, 2009 to celebrate Japan's Respect-for-the-Aged-Day. The number of elderly people in Japan has hit a record high this year, with one in every four women aged 65 or older. The ratio of elderly people among women came to 25.4 percent, topping 25 percent for the first time, while the ratio for men was 19.9 percent. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo by Yoshikazu TSUNO / AFP)

TOKYO: In a homily delivered on Sunday, Sept. 15, Archbishop Isao Kikuchi called for solidarity between generations, emphasizing the invaluable role that elderly people continue to play in society.

Citing Pope Francis’ message for the occasion, the archbishop warned against societal trends that view the elderly as a burden on younger generations.

He stressed the need to counter the erroneous belief that older generations “rob young people of their future.”

“Even when their activities become less productive and may be seen as a waste,” Archbishop Kikuchi said, quoting Pope Francis, “God never abandons His children, even when they grow old and their strength declines, even when their hair turns gray and their role in society becomes less important.”

The Church originally designated the fourth Sunday of July as the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly.

However, the Church in Japan sought and received permission from the Holy See to move the observance to September, aligning it with the national holiday, Respect for the Aged Day.

This year, the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly was celebrated on Sept. 15.

Japan’s aging crisis is among the most severe in the world, with nearly 30 percent of its population over the age of 65.

A shrinking birthrate, combined with extended life expectancy, has created a demographic imbalance that has disrupted traditional family structures.

Japan’s fertility rate, which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, dropped to 1.2 last year, according to the latest statistics.

In 2023, the country recorded 727,277 births—a 5.6 percent decrease from the previous year, marking the lowest number since records began in 1899, the ministry reported.

Additionally, the data revealed a 6 percent decline in marriages, with 474,717 couples tying the knot last year. Authorities cite this drop in marriages as a significant factor contributing to the falling birth rate.

In Japan’s traditionally conservative society, out-of-wedlock births remain uncommon, as family values are highly regarded.--licas.news