Located in Mashū-ko on Hokkaidō (Japan’s second largest island), the sign below is a community service announcement from Japan Agriculture (JA). It loosely translates as:
Drink milk
Hussle! Hussle!
We are taking the declining birth rate problem very seriously
Humping cows to save Japan's population problem
Humping cows to save Japan's population problem
Image via Alafista.
Japan has a declining birth rate. The number of deaths per year exceed the number of births per year causing the population to contract. Obviously, this presents a number of issues such as labour shortages and a reduced tax base. Further, coupled with an ageing population, will lead to a strain on the pension system.
This is a serious problem with even a Japanese term invented for the situation – shoshika – meaning ‘a society without chilldren’.
So, how does the image of two cows humping help the baby bust?
Are Japanese dairy farmers suggesting that milk will act as an aphrodisiac and save Japan from population annulment?
Or, is the image of two cows humping the aphrodisiac that will propel the Japanese race into a bonk fest frenzy?
Japan, You’re Doing It Wrong
Hitler Rants About His Investment In Japan
Yakitate!! Japan – British Stereotypes
Japan, Where Else?
Universal Studios Japan
Scott J
emuu
locohama
Nunnster
Brad F.
Jamaipanese
Thomas Gantz
The Envoy
freedomwv
Jamie
Maybe the idea of cows humping more than the Japanese will inspire them.
Yeah man, I like that angle! If the cows can do it, then why the hell can’t you?
I think it’s a brilliant idea!
Well, this has to be the most novel way of getting the population to get on with it that I’ve seen so far. I do remember leaflets through doors at one point, and even perhaps an advert on TV (though I may have made this one up; it could be even too much for the Japanese!), but graphically ‘augmented’ cows has to be the best!
Great blog by the way, been following for a while and really like what you’re doing here.
@ryan thanks for your comment. i agree with you. it certainly is novel. i think that it is a good example of target advertising. the demographic of that part of the world are farmers, so why not reach them through images that they understand.
a few years back the treasurer of australia (peter costello) came out with the following quote to encourage a higher birth rate:
“I encourage people who can, if you have the opportunity, if you’re young enough, to have one for mum, one for dad and one for the country”
a boring quote in comparison to the above image. if he had foresight, he should have released a picture of two kangaroo’s humping with a quote “get bouncing” or something like that.
btw, thanks for your comment about the blog. i am a recent subscriber to yours and am impressed with the quality of the content of what i have read so far. good work.
Brilliant! I nearly fell off my chair laughing after the kangaroo comment; hilarious. Shame that having more of a sense of humour is not part of the Treasurers remit, really.
And thanks for the subscribe: me the same for you.
Two cows humping! No wonder they have pro-creation problems. Unless they get a bull involved, I’m predicting a severe decline in the Japanese Bovine population too.
Nunnster, you sound like an authority on the issue of cow sex. Is this your way of volunteering to help out with the Japanese bovine reproductive issues? Bestiality. Each to his own I say. I don’t judge you for it.
scotty, that sounds remarkably like a reesan thing to say. Let me know when you have an original idea.
Munnster, i can’t help if it people follow an overall pattern with you. Maybe you need to look at your “hobbies”? Possibly sway more toward acceptable ‘norms’ rather than unusual animal practices (again, i’m not judging)
Cows pro-creating doesn’t exactly make you want to make babies?? The Japanese are well educated…. I’m sure they could come up with a better way of getting the point across.