In Japan, a sharp decline in birth rates has been noted, reaching 720,988 newborns in 2024, which represents the lowest indicator in the last 125 years. The tough working environment is making child-rearing challenging for many young Japanese people.
The decline in birth rates in Japan is not only a crisis for the population but also a result of unsuccessful leadership policies, which have no easy solutions. Reflecting the crisis is the insufficient governmental involvement and lack of vision.
In the context of the ongoing decline in birth rates, policymakers are trying to change the situation through weak stimuli, superficial reforms, and demonstrative social campaigns, but this has not altered the trend of declining birth rates.
It is noted that Japanese leaders are not grappling with the declining population numbers but rather with the country's inability to emerge from long-term stagnation. The lack of successful changes signifies that the political strategies of the country have become obsolete, dealing with issues related to work-life balance, family, and social structure.
Japanese policymakers have long believed that financial stimuli are sufficient to increase the birth rate of children, however, the continuous decline in birth rates indicates that finance alone is not the solution to the problem. Deeper forces, such as cultural changes, economic pressures, and unfavorable working conditions, play a significant role.
Political leaders demonstrate a clear inability to adapt, sticking to outdated methods instead of adopting real structural changes. Simple provisions for benefits and tax incentives are insufficient; it is necessary to reconsider the approach to family support, especially in balancing work and life, housing, and education.
The current moment clearly demonstrates the need for change. In Japan, bureaucracy is struggling, which clashes with the lack of flexibility and innovation in problem-solving, requiring stepping outside the confines of short-term, superficial measures and planned to explore longer-term decisions.
Japan faces the risk of not only in the decrease of population but also in economic stagnation, where a critical level of labor resources for maintaining social services and pension systems becomes necessary.
Global changes and the surrounding crisis undermine the crisis, similar to what Japan is experiencing, are also felt in South Korea. After previous efforts to address the issues, a slight increase in birth rates is noted, indicating that changes in political and social models can have substantial significance for the country.
Japanese political leaders need to reassess their actions, as persistent failures in addressing the birth rate problem can lead to economic and social downturns. These challenges require bold leadership and a broader vision.
