edit: I have to clarity that the de-populating regional parts of Japan are mostly not what a U.S. or even EU person would see as "rural". These are cities of 300,000+ population with working public transit etc. They OUGHT to be able to support themselves, yet people are still centralizing to Tokyo. I even have a friend in Osaka (pop 3 million) who is considering Tokyo.
I have lived in Tokyo and now I live in a very "regional" area of Japan and have two kids. While the school_s are actually better in Tokyo, I'm still far happier raising my kids here where there are abundant parks, beaches and nature, and would never want to move to Tokyo. I would be really sad if the rest of the country disappeared and everyone had to live in the concrete jungle.
But I work remotely which is the only reason I can live here. The wages for my job are literally 10x in Tokyo than what they are here. That's why people move there. And that's why the schools are better in Tokyo - salaries for daycare workers and teachers here are too low so everyone leaves.
At the same time as the salaries are higher in Tokyo - the cost of raising a family there is also far higher. It's very cheap to be solo or a working couple living in Tokyo. The most affordable large city in the world. Far cheaper than SF. But if you have more than 2 kids (beyond replacement rate), now you need a big car, a big condo, etc etc and it's completely unaffordable. Whereas here in the "inaka" I know people with 3-4 kids on a low salary that are doing "ok".
Being able to even out the salaries in the country with remote work or even satellite offices using remote work technology would help lots.
I have lived in Tokyo and now I live in a very "regional" area of Japan and have two kids. While the school_s are actually better in Tokyo, I'm still far happier raising my kids here where there are abundant parks, beaches and nature, and would never want to move to Tokyo. I would be really sad if the rest of the country disappeared and everyone had to live in the concrete jungle.
But I work remotely which is the only reason I can live here. The wages for my job are literally 10x in Tokyo than what they are here. That's why people move there. And that's why the schools are better in Tokyo - salaries for daycare workers and teachers here are too low so everyone leaves.
At the same time as the salaries are higher in Tokyo - the cost of raising a family there is also far higher. It's very cheap to be solo or a working couple living in Tokyo. The most affordable large city in the world. Far cheaper than SF. But if you have more than 2 kids (beyond replacement rate), now you need a big car, a big condo, etc etc and it's completely unaffordable. Whereas here in the "inaka" I know people with 3-4 kids on a low salary that are doing "ok".
Being able to even out the salaries in the country with remote work or even satellite offices using remote work technology would help lots.