Core Viewpoint - The book "Can We Still Be Family?" by two Japanese women from "non-traditional families" explores themes of family, intimate relationships, love, marriage, and female growth through their candid dialogues [1][3]. Group 1: Authors and Background - The book features conversations between actress and writer Yayako Uchida and neuroscientist Nobuko Nakano, who share their unique and challenging family backgrounds [1][3]. - Yayako Uchida, daughter of the late actress Kiki Kirin, grew up in a celebrity family marked by her parents' separation before her birth and her father's tumultuous lifestyle [1][4]. - Nobuko Nakano experienced a cold and communicative relationship with her parents, leading to her early independence [1][3]. Group 2: Themes of Relationships - The dialogues reflect on their experiences with family and marriage, revealing the complexities of their relationships and the impact of their upbringing [3][4]. - Uchida married at 19 and had three children, but faced significant differences with her husband, while Nakano's marriage involved a "weekend couple" and child-free lifestyle [3][4]. - The book emphasizes the importance of communication in relationships, contrasting it with the silence that can lead to deeper issues [11]. Group 3: Insights on Parenting and Family Dynamics - The authors discuss the challenges of parenting, highlighting the potential for becoming "toxic parents" due to immaturity and lack of preparation [10][12]. - Nakano notes that the separation between parents and children is a painful yet necessary part of growth, while Uchida reflects on the void left by her parents' passing [9][10]. - The book predicts that by 2024, half of the Japanese population may choose not to marry, reflecting changing societal norms around family and relationships [10][13]. Group 4: Cultural Reflections - The book has resonated with readers in Japan, who find common ground in the authors' experiences, suggesting that non-traditional family backgrounds do not preclude a fulfilling life [13]. - The discussions also touch on societal expectations and the evolving nature of marriage, with younger generations approaching relationships with caution [12][13].

智通财经5月5日电，日本总务省5月4日发布的数据显示，日本儿童人数已连续44年减少。截至4月1日， 包括外国人在内的15岁以下儿童为1366万人，较上年减少了35万。根据《联合早报》报道，这项在5月5 日日本儿童节前夕发布的数据显示，日本儿童占总人口的比率下降了0.2个百分点至11.1%，人数和占比 均创下有可比数据的1950年以来的新低。共同社指出，日本出生人数下滑势头未能遏制，凸显出少子化 程度越发严重。 日本儿童人数已连续44年减少 少子化问题越发严重 ...

Core Insights - The number of children under 15 years old in Japan, including foreigners, has decreased for 44 consecutive years, reaching a record low of 13.66 million as of April 1 [1] - The child population has declined by 350,000 from the previous year, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of children to 11.1% of the total population, a drop of 0.2 percentage points [1] - The ongoing decline in birth rates highlights the increasingly severe issue of low birth rates in Japan [1]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes a low-buying strategy or participation in the strongest sectors to seek trend opportunities in the current A-share market, which is experiencing significant volatility [1] - It highlights the importance of having a first-mover advantage in stock trading, suggesting that chasing prices is not a sustainable strategy [1] - The author shares insights from a well-known investor who focuses on low-buying in strong sectors, particularly when stocks pull back to the 5-day and 10-day moving averages [1] Group 2 - Jiangsu province has reported zero growth in its permanent resident population for the first time since the new century, with a total of 85.26 million residents at the end of 2024 [4][3] - The article discusses the rapid decline in population growth in Jiangsu, contrasting it with Zhejiang, which continues to see population increases [9][7] - Key issues identified include aging and declining birth rates, which are contributing to Jiangsu's population stagnation [30][10] Group 3 - The article notes that Jiangsu's birth rate has been consistently declining, with a significant drop from 20.54‰ in 1990 to only 4.81‰ in 2023 [32][40] - It highlights that the natural population growth in Jiangsu has been negative since 2021, with a decrease of 27,400 people in 2023 [35][36] - The article points out that Jiangsu's aging population is a significant factor in its low birth rate, ranking seventh in the country for aging [44][43] Group 4 - In response to the declining birth rate, Jiangsu has implemented measures to attract new residents, including relaxing household registration restrictions [49][50] - The article suggests that Jiangsu needs to enhance its self-sustaining population growth through strong pro-natalist policies, similar to those introduced in other regions [52][53] - It concludes that despite efforts to encourage childbirth, the overall trend of declining birth rates is difficult to reverse due to changing societal attitudes and economic pressures [56][60]