Why does Japan still have a declining/low birth rate, even though the Japanese goverment has enacted several nation-wide policies to tackle the problem?
In: 12200
As someone who lives in Japan, the government does jackshit to improve birthrate.
Most hospital do not offer epidural, for those who do it will cost you $1500+ from your pocket.
There isn’t enough kindergarten, the wait is insane.
There isn’t a babysitter system good enough because they still think the grandparents can do it, whereas they most likely live far away in today’s society.
School only becomes free from 3 years old, and by free I mean only the registration, everything else is from your pocket (uniform, activities etc)
So many freaking places have a “no children” policy, including hotels and restaurants.
If you look in the news, old people even managed to have the city close a children playground because the sound of playing children was too much disturbance for them.
If you aren’t married there is no protection for the children, if you divorce there is no shared custody or anything.
It takes balls to have children in Japan.
Latest Answers