It’s not news that Japan’s shrinking population is a big problem, but it was a surprise to me how quickly it’s being felt. A Washington Post article A baby bust empties out Japan’s schools gives some startling facts:

Japan’s disappearing schools are emblematic of the problem. More than 2,000 elementary, junior high and high schools nationwide have been forced to close over the past decade. The number of elementary and junior high students fell from 13.42 million in 1994 to 10.86 million last year. An estimated 63,000 teachers have lost their jobs. Even as the percentage of people over 65 steadily climbs, an estimated 300 more schools a year are scheduled to shut their doors over the next several years…

Which would explain exactly why there were so few kids at Fuji Safari Park today…