Japan lawmaker slammed for calling childless people selfish

In this June 25, 2018  photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) and top Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Toshihiro Nikai (left) attend their party’s meeting in Tokyo. AP

TOKYO — A leader of Japan’s ruling party has sparked an uproar by calling people without children selfish, in the latest comment by a senior politician urging women to have more babies.

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, said this week that recent generations think they’re better off without children. Nikai said that was selfish, and compared them to older people who had large families despite the devastation of World War II.

He urged women to have babies for Japan’s prosperity. The country is struggling with an aging and declining population.

Opponents said Wednesday that Nikai’s remark neglected people’s right to choose their family size and was insensitive to those with financial or medical difficulties.

Several senior lawmakers have been criticized recently for urging women to focus more on childrearing.