Tokyo's health ministry has pledged additional measures to boost births, while analysts say the country can't spend its way out of the problem.
The birth rate in Japan continued to decline in the first half of this year, deepening a trend Tokyo says will be irreversible by the next decade.Asia's second-largest economy faces a severe demographic challenge, with its aging population poised to strain social welfare and threaten a number of industries, including education. National and local governments have introduced measures like increased childcare spending and immigration reforms to counter the crisis.
He stressed that the ministry has requested a budget including measures to raise wages among younger Japanese and expand access to childcare and postnatal parental leave to encourage child-rearing.These statistics were released as Japan's parliament approved a revision to legislation aimed at boosting support for current parents by expanding financial aid, parental leave and childcare access.
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