日本的人口數字

Recently Yomiuri News reported the following:

総務省は１１日、住民基本台帳に基づく今年３月３１日現在の人口を発表した。全国の人口（外国人は除く）は１億２７０７万６１８３人（前年比１万５人増）で、２年連続で増加した。海外から転入や帰化などに伴う「社会増加数」が５万５９１９人（前年４万１８２６人）と増えたためだが、出生者から死亡者を引いた「自然増加数」は、マイナス４万５９１４人と過去最大の「自然減」になっており、人口減少は加速しているのが実態だ。前年も自然減は２万９１１９人で過去最大を記錄していたが、大幅に上回った。０８年度の出生者数は、１０８万８４８８人（前年度比７９７７人減）で３年ぶりに減少に転じた。死亡者は過去最高の１１３万４４０２人だった。社会増加数增えたことについて、同省は「景気悪化に伴う企業の海外撤退など考えられる」と分析。帰化は１万数千人としている。また。東京圏、名古屋圏、関西圏の３大都市圏の人口は６４０１万２６１８人（全国人口の５０．３７％）で過去最高。関西圏（東京、大阪両府、兵庫、奈良両県）は１８２３万３４９６人で５年ぶりに増加した。東京都は１２５４万８２５８人。増加数は対前年比８万６０６２人、増加率は０．６９％とともに最大で、東京一極集中の傾向が続いている。

The Ministry of Management and Coordination on the 11th announced the population figure of Japan as at March 31st. The total population ( foreigners excluded) was 1.27 billion (10,005 more than last year), it was the second year increase. While the 'social increase' due to those returning from overseas and those through naturalization was 55,919 (last year 41,826), the 'natural increase' based on birth rate minus death rate recorded a minus of 45,914, being the highest 'natural decrease'. It was a fact that population was decreasing at a faster pace. Natural decrease last year was 29,119, being a record, was substantially surpassed. In 2008 birth figure was 1,088,488 (a drop of 7,977 compared with last year), it was a drop not seen since 3 years ago. The number of death was at a peak of 1,134,402. 'Social increase' also went up, the ministry's analysis was that it might due to '(Japaneses) enterprises retreated from overseas having regard to the poor economic situation'. Naturalization figure was around ten thousand. Also, the population in Tokyo Metropolitan Ring, Nagoya Metropolitan Ring, and the Kansai Metropolitan Ring was at the record height of 64 million (representing 50.37% of country's total population). Kansai Metropolitan Ring (with 2 provinces and 2 prefectures) had a population of 18.2 million, witnessing an increase not seen since 5 years ago. In Tokyo capital, the population was 12.5 million. There was an increase of 86,062 people or 0.69%, being a record high, and the tendency for people to concentrate in Tokyo continued.
From the above, it seems that Japan is quite successful in controlling its population growth.