Jakarta –
Japan is hit by a population crisis because many citizens are reluctant to have children. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida then promised steps of a “new dimension” to boost the plummeting birth rate in his country. But in the midst of this situation, there is one city whose population is still growing. How could that be?
It is known, the number of babies born in Japan reached less than 800,000 last year. Referring to government data, the figure is the lowest on record since Japan first started calculating birth rates in 1899.
Despite the dismal situation, there are still parts of Japan that have recorded an increase in population, due to an increased birth rate or migration of citizens from other regions.
In the western city of Akashi, for example, there are still many children playing and climbing on the black gym rides, playing in the play zone, or engrossed in reading books on the shelves provided in the clean and bright rooms of the day care centers.
“We get a lot of support for child care and other things, which even my friends are jealous of, so I’m not worried,” said Haruka Okamoto, a resident who was accompanying her daughter to play, quoted from NPR, Thursday (29/6/ 2023).
“We are building a house in Akashi. This is a city that makes me think I want to live here forever,” he continued.
Children at Akashi get free medical care until the age of 18. In addition, they get free school lunches until the age of 15.
Families with two or more children get free kindergartens and kindergartens. Babies under 1 year old get free diapers, delivered to each family’s house by a midwife. All of these services are provided regardless of the income of family members.
(vyp/kna)
2023-06-29 09:30:32
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