On May 29, 2026, Chinese media outlet Guancha reported that Japan's total population decreased by 3,097,000 in the five years since 2020, as revealed by the latest census data.

The article stated that as of October 1, 2025, Japan's total population was approximately 123 million, a decrease of 3,097,000 (2.5%) from 2020. It reported that this was the third consecutive decline in the quinquennial census since the first decrease was observed in the 2015 survey, and the magnitude of the decrease was the largest ever.

It also pointed out that the breakdown of the total population was 59,778,826 males and 63,270,698 females, and that Tokyo (1.4%) and Okinawa (0.1%) were the only prefectures where the population increased. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' view that the expansion of 'natural decrease' (deaths outnumbering births) due to the declining birthrate and aging population is the cause of the population decline was conveyed, and it was stated that Japan's population is expected to continue decreasing due to the downward trend in the birthrate.

In response to this news, many Chinese netizens posted comments focusing on their own country's population issues, such as 'We should be thinking about ourselves more than worrying about Japan,' 'China's population is 10 times that of Japan, so future declines will also be 10 times greater,' and 'China's declining birthrate and aging population are more serious than Japan's.'

Furthermore, some voices presented specific calculations, with one pointing out, 'There are two population peaks, those born in the 1960s and those born in the 1980s. If the average life expectancy is 80 years, then in about 15 years, deaths of those born in the 60s will peak, and the situation where tens of millions die in five years will no longer be a joke.' Others expressed concern about the accelerating pace of decline, saying, 'Do you think population decline proceeds linearly? You don't understand the power of exponential functions.'

In addition, some comments questioned the very nature of modern society, asking, 'Industrialization has greatly increased productivity and enriched lives, so why are the results contrary to people's wishes?' (Edited/Translated by Kawajiri)