Tokyo is implementing a four-day workweek starting April 2025 to combat its declining birth rate and boost tourism. The initiative, coupled with flexible working hours for parents, aims to improve work-life balance and encourage families to have more children. This policy is expected to benefit the tourism sector by increasing domestic travel and regional economic development.
Facing a plummeting birth rate and a rapidly shrinking population, Russia is taking drastic measures to address the demographic crisis. From offering financial incentives to promoting intimacy with unconventional ideas, the government is exploring a range of solutions, including the controversial proposal for a ‘ministry of sex’. This article delves into the details of Russia’s demographic challenges and the extraordinary steps being taken to reverse the trend.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sparked controversy by advocating for a higher birth rate and proposing a law that would restrict candidacy in local body elections to individuals with at least two children. This policy shift, announced during a recent speech, aims to address concerns about the state’s growth rate but has drawn criticism from those concerned about population control and its potential impact on social and economic development.
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) is undertaking a nationwide survey of 30,000 individuals to uncover the factors driving declining birth rates and understand the ‘fear surrounding having children.’ This initiative, part of Beijing’s efforts to boost a dwindling population, aims to analyze attitudes towards childbearing and inform policies to encourage family growth.
The Russian parliament is considering a law that would ban the promotion of child-free lifestyles, imposing hefty fines for individuals, state officials, and companies found guilty of spreading such ‘propaganda’. The move aims to boost Russia’s declining birth rate and reinforce traditional values in a world the Kremlin perceives as hostile to its vision. However, the proposed legislation has sparked mixed reactions, with some Russians supporting it while others criticize it as unnecessary and intrusive.
The Japanese government is holding consultations with young people to understand their views on marriage and the factors affecting their decisions, as the country grapples with a declining population and a low birth rate. The government aims to find ways to support young people in finding partners and address concerns about the high cost of living, limited job opportunities, and work culture that impact marriage and family formation.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has unveiled a series of measures aimed at increasing the birth rate and curbing immigration, including lifetime tax exemption for mothers with at least four children and subsidies for larger families to purchase bigger cars. The move comes amid a declining birth rate in Hungary and other European countries.
Amidst severe labor shortages and a rapidly aging population, the Japanese Government is launching a unique initiative to boost the declining national birth rate. This summer, it will unveil a government-backed ‘dating app’ called ‘Tokyo Futari Story’ to connect potential partners who explicitly express their desire to marry. The move marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to promote childbirth, which has hit a record low in 2023. To access the dating app, users must submit a letter expressing their willingness to marry and provide documentation proving their legal single status and annual salary. The app, which has been under development since 2023, is expected to address the growing concern that many individuals seeking marriage are reluctant to actively pursue dating apps or events. The government hopes to encourage those interested in marriage to take the first step towards finding a partner. Despite some skepticism from netizens who question the government’s involvement in such matters, the app has drawn interest from those prioritizing safety and authenticity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the Eurovision Song Contest as a threat to traditional family values, following Switzerland’s victory with an openly LGBTQ+ performer. Erdogan claimed that participants are ‘Trojan horses of social corruption’ and that Turkey made the right decision to withdraw from the competition in 2012. He also expressed concern over Turkey’s declining birth rate, describing it as an ‘existential threat.’
South Korea has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, becoming a global economic and technological powerhouse. However, it also faces challenges such as a low birth rate, gender and class inequalities, and corruption. This article highlights six books and a film that provide insights into the country’s complexities.
