A leading Liberal Democratic Party official on Tuesday called people opting not to have children "selfish," in the latest controversial remark from a politician of the ruling party urging people to have babies.
"During and after the war when (people) were living on the edge of starvation, nobody said it's better not to have children because it would be too much trouble," LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai said, adding, "These days, some people have a selfish idea that it is better not to give birth to children."
"In order for everyone (in Japan) to be happy, we should have many children and develop our country," the 79-year-old Lower House member also said in a speech in Tokyo.