Japan really seems like its in a late stage capitalism phase, and by extension a neglect in social policy that is conducive to child rearing. Its an example that may follow for many other countries. The US is facing similar issues, though there is less of an issue b/c of the nature of constant influx of immigrants which has been periodic for the US, helping lessen the blow of a falling workforce(This solution works for the US, but I suspect the euros with racial ethnocentrism tendencies would be a lot less receptive to this). Raising children effectively isn't really possible when people aren't able to get married and settle down, and then there is the issue with no support for maternity leave, and it not being really feasible to have a household function in the U.S. without it being dual income. Add to that, the student debt crisis, the cost of home ownership and housing, the rising inflation, the stagnation of wages. A lot of people are putting off much of having children, b/c the building blocks to support it effectively are rapidly eroding.