Reasons for Delaying Marriage By Japanese Women and its Impact and the Shoushika Phenomenon in the Japan Reporter Youtube Channel: Japan's Rise of Unmarried and Childless Women | Birthrate Crisis (EP.4)

Bintang Satyaningwulan  Widhiutami; Budi  Santoso

doi:10.37899/journal-la-sociale.v6i5.2383

Bintang Satyaningwulan Widhiutami Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dian Nuswantoro University, Semarang, Indonesia
Budi Santoso Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dian Nuswantoro University, Semarang, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37899/journal-la-sociale.v6i5.2383

Keywords: Shoushika, Japanese Women, Marriage, Birth Rate

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the causes and effects of marriage delay by Japanese women on the shoushika (low birthrate society) phenomenon as depicted in The Japan Reporter's YouTube video: "Japan's Rise of Unmarried and Childless Women | Birthrate Crisis (Ep.4)". This research employs a qualitative method to explore the factors influencing Japanese women's decisions regarding marriage and family, and their impact on Japan's declining birth rate. Findings from the content analysis and literature review indicate that changing social values, economic challenges, and difficulties in balancing work and personal life play significant roles in shaping Japanese women's perspectives and contribute to the shoushika phenomenon.

References

Afiyah, I., Macsudov, V. G., Mahmudulhassan, M., & Muthoifin, M. (2024). Impact Analysis of Marital Dispensation: Economic Implications and Family Welfare in Social and Legal Context. Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(01), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.61455/sicopus.v2i01.117

Anggraeni, P. D., Nasir, S., & Thaha, R. (2024). Analysis of the driving factors and impacts of early marriage in mantikulore Sub-District Palu City. International Journal of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, 25(14), 443-431.

Bengana, I., Mili, K., Soliman, Y., Hassan, E. A. A. E., & Mehaouat, L. H. (2025). Population models, theories, and policies. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences (PJLSS), 23(1).

Chenic, A. Ş., Creţu, A. I., & Teşcan, L. (2018). A Long Term Analysis of Two Undeniable Realities of the XXI Century-Global Economic Crisis and Demographic Aging. Revista de Management Comparat International, 19(2), 196-212.

Gaspari, S., Walker, M., Noriega, M., Marisol, M., & Bartels, S. A. (2025). “I am a young Venezuelan woman who left her country”: exploring the drivers of Venezuelan migration and how the migration experience impacts adolescent girls’ aspirations. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2410. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/WPBQB3.

Glonti, K., Gordeev, V. S., Goryakin, Y., Reeves, A., Stuckler, D., McKee, M., & Roberts, B. (2015). A systematic review on health resilience to economic crises. PloS one, 10(4), e0123117. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123117

Hendriansyah, A. R., Octaviana, D. A., Riyadi, N., Salsabila, N., Nafisah, N., Atsariyah, S. A., ... & Aji, N. U. B. (2024). Analysis of Interest in Getting Married and Having Children in Digital Generation Adolescents: A Case Study of Pabelan Sukoharjo Village Community Indonesia. Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(02), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.61455/sicopus.v2i02.140

Huynh, Q. T. (2025). Negotiating Gender and Language Barriers: Dual Roles of Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women in Taiwan. Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Language, 5(1), 53-76. https://doi.org/10.71514/jssal/2025.182

Kaneda, Y., Yamashita, E., Kaneda, U., Tanimoto, T., & Ozaki, A. (2024). Japan’ s Demographic Dilemma: Navigating the Postpandemic Population Decline. JMA Journal, 7(3), 403–405. https://doi.org/10.31662/jmaj.2024-0010

Lu, L., & Wu, P. (2024). Factors influencing fertility intentions among Chinese women: Policy changes, feminist values, and considerations of personal benefit. Journal of Simulation, 12(1), 13.

Mogi, R., Mugiyama, R., & Alderotti, G. (2024). Employment conditions and non-coresidential partnership in very-low fertility countries: Italy and Japan. JFR-Journal of Family Research, 36, 160-177. https://doi.org/10.20377/jfr-953

Mulyadi, B. (2018). Fenomena Penurunan Angka Kelahiran dan Perkembangan Budaya Omiai di Jepang. Kiryoku, 2(2), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.14710/kiryoku.v2i2.65-71

Nugroho, D. A., Alfarisy, F., Kurniawan, A. N., & Sarita, E. R. (2022). Tren Childfree dan Unmarried di Kalangan Masyarakat Jepang. Comserva Indonesian Jurnal of Community Services and Development, 1(11), 1023–1030.

Pourtaheri, A., Mahdizadeh, M., Tehrani, H., Jamali, J., & Peyman, N. (2024). Socio-ecological factors of girl child marriage: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research. BMC public health, 24(1), 428. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17626-z

Rehman, A. A. U., & Shahzadi, A. (2025). Unspoken Barriers: A Statistical Analysis Of Husbands’justifications For Opposing Women’s Post-Marital Employment. International Research Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanities, 4(2), 95-121.

Respatiadi, F., Jalaluddin, M., & Munandar, A. (2024). Strategy for overcoming population growth problems in japan. Al Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan dan Kemasyarakatan, 18(3), 1978-1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.35931/aq.v18i3.3498

Seraj Shirvan, F., Moradi, M., & Latifnejad Ruodsari, R. (2024). A systematic review of the childbearing needs of single-child couples. BMC Women's Health, 24(1), 83.

Sun, X., & Li, S. (2025). Wives’ enduring responsibility? The exercises and outcomes of gender power in urban Chinese families. Journal of Family Studies, 31(2), 251-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2024.2438640

Takao, Y. (2024). Understanding fertility policy through a process-oriented approach: the case of Japan’s decline in births. Journal of Population Research, 41(2), 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-024-09333-2

Takdir, T., Halide, N., Hardianto, H., Rusli, M., Erwin, E., & de Vos, P. (2024). Islamic Law and Local Traditions in Preventing Early Marriage in the Toraja Muslim Minority Community. Jurnal Ilmiah Al-Syir'ah, 22(2), 274-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.30984/jis.v22i2.2931

Takenaka, K. (2025, February 27). Japan’s Births Fell to Record Low in 2024. Reuters.

Taye, B. A., Yirsaw, B. G., Belete, A. K., & Weldearegay, B. Y. (2024). Exploring the determinants of fertility rates in Ethiopia: a decomposition analysis using count regression models with a focus on urban and rural residence, based on the 2019 Ethiopian demographic health survey. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 43(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-024-00659-4

Tsuya, N. O. (2024). Educational attainment, first employment, and first marriage in Japan. Journal of Family Issues, 45(5), 1142-1165. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X231155594

Wang, X., Oussalah, M., Niemelä, M., & Ristikari, T. (2024). Mapping insights from news articles to tackle low birth rate and parenthood in Finland. SN Computer Science, 5(1), 172.

Wirth, P., Elis, V., Müller, B., & Yamamoto, K. (2016). Peripheralisation of small towns in Germany and Japan–Dealing with economic decline and population loss. Journal of rural studies, 47, 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.07.021

Woźny, A. (2025). Domesticating the Salaryman: marriage promotion, hybrid masculinity, and the resignification of reproduction in Japan. Men and Masculinities, 1097184X251328018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X251328018