内容摘要：But the alarm he felt on that flight crushed what was left of his American dream.

But the alarm he felt on that flight crushed what was left of his American dream.

Japan is one of a number of east Asian countries grappling with falling birth rates and an aging population.have fought for years to encourage families to have more children. Also on Wednesday, Vietnam

limiting families to two children in an effort to stem falling birth rates.The Health Ministry’s latest data showed that Japan’s fertility rate — the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime — also fell to a new low of 1.15 in 2024, from 1.2 a year earlier. The number of marriage was slightly up, to 485,063 couples, but the downtrend since the 1970s remains unchanged.Experts say the government’s measures have not addressed a growing number of young people reluctant to marry, largely focusing on already married couples.

The younger generation are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children due to bleak job prospects, a high cost of living and a gender-biased corporate culture that adds extra burdens for women and working mothers, experts say.A growing number of women also cite pressure to take their husband’s

as a reason for their reluctance to marry. Under Japanese law, couples must choose a single surname to marry.

Japan’s population of about 124 million people is projected to fall to 87 million by 2070, with 40% of the population over 65.“If you had asked me at the end of 2024 what my plans were, it was to get married, find a great job here in the U.S. and start a family,” said Saule, who hopes to work as a business data analyst. “Those plans are not applicable anymore. Ask me now, and the plan to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Saule and his fiancee plan to marry this summer, graduate a year early and move to Europe.This spring the Trump administration abruptly

for thousands of international students before reversing itself. A federal judge has blocked further status terminations, but for many, the damage is done. Saule has a constant fear he could be next.As a student in Minnesota just three years ago, he felt like a proud ambassador for his country.