Latest news with #Koike
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Birth Rate Remains Stubbornly Low Despite Efforts; Expert Recommends Reducing Working Hours, Work-Style Reform
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Despite years of extensive efforts to combat Japan's chronically low birth rate, the latest statistics indicate that there has been little tangible impact. According to the nation's 2024 vital statistics, the number of babies born to Japanese citizens in Japan fell below 700,000 for the first time, and the total fertility rate, or the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, slipped to a record low of 1.15. The annual number of babies born had dipped below 800,000 only as recently as 2022, and a sense of panic is spreading among central and local governments as cash handouts, making high school education free and a slew of other policies have failed to reverse these declines. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike wore a grim expression Wednesday after the figures compiled by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry were released, but pledged to continue tackling the issue. 'I feel that we need to battle on at this time,' Koike said. 'We'll continue implementing policies.' The Tokyo metropolitan government has declared that efforts to combat the low birth rate are a high-priority issue, and has led the nation in rolling out a string of policies such as free nursery care and giving households with children aged up to 18 a handout of ¥5,000 per month. Despite these steps, the fertility rate for women living in the capital has been below 1 for two consecutive years and sank to 0.96 in 2024. 'We're trying all kinds of policies, but the situation remains severe,' a senior metropolitan government official said. Ishikawa Prefecture's fertility rate recorded a drop of 0.11 percentage points from 2023, the biggest fall among the nation's 47 prefectures. The prefecture has attempted to stem the decline through such measures as promoting businesses that support a balance between work and raising children. 'We'll accept the latest results and use the examples of other local governments as a reference for future policies,' an Ishikawa prefectural government official in charge of child policies said. Tokyo a magnet for young people The Yomiuri Shimbun The number of couples who got married in 2024 increased for the first time in two years. Although about 480,000 couples tied the knot, this figure remains well below the almost 600,000 couples who did so in 2019. The number plunged the following year as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. The average age at which a woman married for the first time ticked up 0.1 years from 2023. The average age at which women gave birth to their first baby was 31.0, about five years older than 1975's average age of 25.7. The influx of young women to Tokyo and other major urban centers from rural areas has been identified as a major driver of these trends. According to Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry statistics, the fertility rate fell especially sharply in the Tohoku region. A striking number of municipalities in Tohoku recorded that the number of women in their 20s and early 30s who moved away in 2024 eclipsed the number of men in those age brackets who departed. In major cities, many young people said they could not consider getting married because they were too busy with their job or were employed as nonregular workers. 'Rural areas must come up with ways to increase employment opportunities that encourage women to choose to live there,' said Kanako Amano, a senior researcher on demographics at the NLI Research Institute. 'I urge local governments in major cities to concentrate resources on ensuring stable employment that allows young men and women to consider getting married and having children.' Taking kids to the office Amid these gloomy statistics, some companies have produced positive results by changing the way their employees work. People Co., a toy manufacturer based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, encourages employees to bring their children with them, so they can work while their children play at the office. Nine of People's about 45 employees were raising children in 2019, and that figure has soared to 17 this year. Kyoto University Prof. Haruka Shibata, an expert in sociology, said calculations based on data collated from other nations indicated that expanding child-rearing allowances could nudge up the fertility rate by about 0.1 percentage points. However, reducing the working hours of men in full-time, regular employment by two hours each day could increase the rate by 0.35 percentage points. The Children's Future Strategy approved by the Cabinet in 2023 also stated that reducing long working hours would lead to people having enough time to devote to child-rearing and household chores. 'The government should discuss steps such as reducing legal working hours, and beef up national policies that could change the way people work,' Shibata said.
Gulf Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Tokyo to waive basic water bills to combat extreme heat
Japan will waive basic water bills will for Tokyo residents this summer to combat the impact of extreme heat, the government said. Last summer was the joint hottest on record in Japan as extreme heatwaves fuelled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe. 'The basic fee will be waived for four months,' Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Tuesday, adding that households would save an average of 5,000 yen ($35). The government aims to reduce the inflation burden on households, and encourage the use of air conditioning to prevent heatstroke. 'We hope to create an environment where Tokyo residents can live safely even in the expected heatwaves,' Koike said. Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public, especially elderly people, to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke. Senior citizens made up more than 80 percent of heat-related deaths in the past five years. Pensioners are harder hit by rising electricity bills, and some elderly Japanese believe that air conditioning is bad for health. The Tokyo government has budgeted 36.8 billion yen to cover around 8 million households -- or a population of 14 million. Water costs above the basic fees will be charged as usual. In an unrelated development, Japan's agriculture minister was forced to resign on Wednesday because of political fallout over his recent comments that he 'never had to buy rice' because he got it from supporters as a gift. The resignation comes as the public struggles with record high prices of the country's traditional staple food. Taku Eto's comment, which many Japanese saw as out of touch with economic realities, came at a seminar Sunday for the Liberal Democratic Party, which leads a struggling minority government. The gaffe could be further trouble for the party before a national election in July. A major loss could mean a new government or could mean Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba would have to step down. 'I made an extremely inappropriate remark at a time when consumers are struggling with soaring rice prices,' Eto told reporters after submitting his resignation at the prime minister's office. Agencies
The Star
21-05-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Tokyo to waive basic water bills to combat extreme heat
TOKYO: Japan will waive basic water bills will for Tokyo residents this summer to combat the impact of extreme heat, the government said. Last summer was the joint hottest on record in Japan as extreme heatwaves fuelled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe. "The basic fee will be waived for four months," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Tuesday (May 20), adding that households would save an average of 5,000 yen ($35). The government aims to reduce the inflation burden on households, and encourage the use of air conditioning to prevent heatstroke. "We hope to create an environment where Tokyo residents can live safely even in the expected heatwaves," Koike said. Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public, especially elderly people, to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke. Senior citizens made up more than 80 percent of heat-related deaths in the past five years. Pensioners are harder hit by rising electricity bills, and some elderly Japanese believe that air conditioning is bad for health. The Tokyo government has budgeted 36.8 billion yen to cover around 8 million households -- or a population of 14 million. Water costs above the basic fees will be charged as usual. - AFP
Saudi Gazette
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
TOKYO — Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added. By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water fees — based on water usage and paid on top of base fees — will be charged at their usual has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government recorded its hottest summer on record last in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke — also a record — with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people. — BBC
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Joike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added.# By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air conditioning. In more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan Times. On average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water pipe. Additional fees - based on water usage and paid on top of base fees - will be charged at their usual rate. Tokyo has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government statistics. Japan recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Temperatures in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological agency. Between June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke - also a record - with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people.
