Theme Of Japan's Low Birthrate In Into The Wild

Japan’s Low Birthrate and Krakenhauer’s Into The Wild: A Comparison

Introduction

Japan currently faces one of the most significant demographical problems in recent world history. This first-world country's birthrate has dropped in recent times to a seemingly all-time low. Researchers have their own takes and reasons why this significant drop has occurred. However, this paper will take a different approach in attempts to explain this phenomenon by exploring how we can connect what we can learn from Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild to Japan’s recent birth rate issue, which will ultimately allow us to see the over-arching problem in a new light.

Disillusionment of Modern Society In the book Into the Wild, the main character Chris McCandless leaves

The relationship McCandless had with his father was not a great one: “Given Walt's need to exert control and Chris's extravagantly independent nature, polarization was inevitable. Chris submitted to Walt's authority through high school and college to a surprising degree, but the boy raged inwardly all the while” (Krakauer, pg. 51). McCandless felt that his family put too much pressure on him since they wanted him to go to law school and be successful in both his endeavors and in his career. McCandless was not a person that liked order, or direction given to him from an outside source. McCandless is not alone in feeling this way, many young individuals living in Japan face the same pressures and feelings. In an article discussing Japanese 21st-century familial issues written by Anne E. Imamura, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, she writes: “Yet another important reason is the legacy of the Japanese family system, including care for the aged, the burden of which falls on women” (Imamura, pg. 1). Women in modern Japanese society 20 years ago were expected to look after the children, the elderly, the house, and the finances. Nowadays, more and more Japanese Women are breaking traditional Japanese norms and deciding to live life for themselves. Ever so increasingly, more and more women want careers, and to write their own rules for the

First, he felt that the pressure to pursue money, love, and fame was only skin deep and that venturing to fulfill one's life with the accomplishment of these pursuits was superficial. This contrasts directly with how Japanese society runs itself since its people tend to lead towards the direction of falling to societal pressure and dedicating their lives to their work and their careers. Causing them to have little to no time to settle down and start a family. Second, McCandless left due to familial pressures. His mother and father wanted to see him go to law school and be successful in life. However, Chris thought differently. This is much the same with young Japanese people, they too experience high familial pressures to have a family, a career, and take care of their elders. However, most want to escape these pressures and focus on themselves. Yet again contributing to Japan’s low birth rate. Finally, McCandless left society in order to connect with nature more, in order to feel more grounded and fulfilled. However, the constant urbanization of Japanese cities does not allow one to do as McCandless did. Young Japanese people are surrounded by urban landscapes and concrete jungles. This disconnect from nature poses yet another threat to modern Japan's drastic fall in