Author: Motoko Rich

The Demographic Crisis: Japan’s Battle to Boost Fertility Rates Tokyo – In 1989, Japan stood as an economic powerhouse on the global stage. However, behind the façade of success lay a deep-rooted problem – the country’s fertility rate had plummeted to a record low of 1.57 children per woman. This grim reality prompted the government to take action to prevent a looming crisis. To combat the decreasing birth rates, Japan implemented a series of policies in the 1990s aimed at encouraging couples to have more children. These initiatives included mandatory child care leave for employees, subsidized day care slots, promoting…