Japan is set to revolutionise its work culture by introducing a four-day work week for government employees in a bid to tackle its population crisis.
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As Japan grapples with a demographic crisis characterised by its plummeting birth rates and an ageing population, the government is taking unprecedented steps to reverse these trends.
In April, a four-day work week for government employees was rolled out, aiming to give parents, particularly mothers, more breathing room to balance family and career.
This bold policy comes in the wake of projections that Japan’s population could shrink by 30% by 2070, prompting the government to explore unconventional strategies to encourage marriage and parenthood.
Yet, as this progressive move unfolds, a deeper question looms: Will offering more time off persuade women to have more children, or are we potentially ignoring the profound personal choices that women are making?
Shifts in Japan's work culture
As announced by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, the new four-day work policy is tailored to foster flexibility for parents and alleviate pressures from Japan's notorious work culture. Employees will receive three extra days off per month, while their total monthly hours will remain unchanged.
Special allowances will be made for those with younger children, particularly those in primary school, to adapt their schedules accordingly.
The hope is that this radical transformation will ease the burden of childcare and work-life balance, key issues contributing to Japan's declining birth rate.
The reality of Japan’s birth rate crisis
The stark reality is disheartening: Japan's fertility rate plummeted to a record low of 1.2 children per woman in 2023, falling far short of the 2.1 rate necessary to maintain population stability.
A mere 727 277 births were documented last year, marking the lowest figure since records began. This predicament surfaces at a time when Japan was once synonymous with economic robustness and a growing population.
For decades, Japan’s work culture has been marked by long hours, high stress, and little balance between professional and personal lives.
Image: Valeria Gutiérrez/pexels
However, as the government ramps up encouragement for men to embrace paternity leave, enhance childcare facilities, and now introduce this four-day workweek, many women are consciously electing to remain child-free.
Why? Because for some, the decision stems not from convenience but from deeply personal choices.
Understanding childfree choices
According to a 2023 survey by Japan Times, 28% of women under 40 choose to remain child-free, prioritising careers, travel, or simply solitude.
Rising living costs are undeniably a factor, but this movement represents a significant shift in the agency for women. Sociologist Dr Yumi Sato articulates, “Women aren’t opting out of motherhood. They’re opting into lives they design.”
Japan’s traditional work culture, renowned for its long hours and relentless stress, contributes to this trend.
The concept of karoshi, death by overwork, remains a grim reality. Many women face opposition to career advancements if they take time off for motherhood, leading to a growing number choosing to heed their desires, even if it means forgoing children.
Women in Japan are re-evaluating happiness and fulfilment on their terms. For many, it encompasses flourishing in their careers, achieving financial independence, and exploring passions beyond conventional family dynamics.
Some seek to parent on their terms, liberated from societal pressure or the fear of career stagnation.
Obstacles to changing dynamics. Despite the promising introduction of flexible work schedules, addressing systemic issues such as Japan’s significant gender gap in labour force participation, the percentage stands at 55% for women versus 72% for men remains crucial.
While the four-day workweek is a positive initial step, experts caution that societal attitudes will not shift overnight.
The reality is that women across the globe are increasingly empowered to make choices based on their aspirations rather than societal expectations.
Whether choosing to have children, remaining child-free, or pursuing alternatives, the essential need is for a society that embraces and supports all choices equally.
Japan’s creative crusade to boost birth rates
In a bid to reverse the declining birth rate, Japan has explored a variety of creative initiatives beyond work policies:
AI-powered dating apps: Tokyo has launched an AI-driven dating app called Tokyo Futari Story, designed to connect users based on shared values and life goals, with a focus on marriage.
Speed dating for parents: In a unique twist, matchmaking agencies are organising events where parents of single adults can network in hopes of securing matches for their busy offspring.
Marriage support concierges: Japan’s Children and Families Agency is deploying matchmaking experts across the country to facilitate connections.
Financial incentives: Families are being encouraged with monthly allowances for children under two and prioritised housing options.
Paternity leave initiatives: Efforts to change workplace cultures include incentives for companies to encourage male employees to take paternity leave.
While these initiatives showcase creativity, experts caution that they may fall short of addressing the underlying societal issues at play.
As sociologist Mary Brinton notes, countries like Sweden have stabilised birth rates by fostering a work-life balance rather than by merely facilitating marriages.