Asia Centre

...In 1990, the announcement that the birth rate had fallen to 1.57 caused serious concern (1.57 shokku). The government adopted an initial five-year plan entitled "Angels" (Angel plan, 1994-1999) which increased the provision of crèches. The second five-year plan (2000-2004) was aimed at enabling young mothers to return more easily to work by increasing the number of crèches and introducing the first financial incentives. Two bills were passed in 2003, the first of which concerned the issues of an ageing society (Shôshika shakai taisaku hihonhô) and the second the need to increase the size of future generations (Jisedai ikuseishien taisakusuishinhô). The first laid the basis for the creation in 2003 of an inter-ministerial committee to respond to the challenges posed by an ageing population (Shôshika shakai taisaku kaigi). The second provided the legal grounds for appropriate regional and enterprise-based initiatives. For example, at the beginning of February 2006 the Chiyoda district of Tokyo announced that henceforth it would provide financial support from the fifth month of pregnancy up until the child's eighteenth birthday.

In 2004 a third five-year plan (2005-2009) was approved to provide help for the birth and the education of children, which will improve the financial independence of young adults. In October 2005, a new commission, composed largely of experts, was set up to address the problems of an ageing society (Shôshika shakai taisaku suishin kaigi). In October 2005, for the first time a ministerial post was established to redress the falling birth-rate and gender inequalities, Mrs. Inoguchi, was appointed. In the budget for 2006 a sum of 145.7 billion yen (1.3 billion euros) was allocated to implement policies to improve the birth-rate.

In 2000, family allowances were extended to cover children from 3 to 6 years old, and this range was expanded to include children up to 9 years old in 2004 (following a proposal from the Kômeitô). The allowance is 5000 yen per month for the first and second child, and 10,000 for the third and subsequent children (for all people covered by the general social security provisions, kokumin nenkin for the unwaged, and kôseinenkin for the wage earners).

The government is currently planning further increases to support the costs of childbirth, and for the children's education. These will include improving economic aid towards the medical expenses incurred by babies and children, lowering the taxes on age groups able to raise children, providing free natal facilities, and lowering the costs of crèches and kindergartens.

It is also considering ways of integrating the demands of family life and work, by making leave more readily available, by increasing the number of childcare facilities, especially in the workplace, and by establishing new measures to make it easier to return to work after giving birth. In early January, the government relaxed the rules for obtaining the exemption or reduction in the costs of care for a second child which are available to lower and middle income families.[1] These families used to enjoy a 40% reduction in the costs of a crèche for their second child if their first one was also still in a crèche. From next Spring onwards, the reduction will be 90% if the two children are in a crèche at the same time, and 60% if they are not. The government is also planning to compensate firms which offer work schedules more compatible with family life.

As in may other developed countries there is a definite need for a change in the prevailing mindset. Women still have to put far more effort than men into pursuing a career. Even though theoretically a company career is now open to them, they have great difficulty in harmonising work and family. In 2004 a government survey showed that the traditional idea of a woman's role is not longer dominant.[2] It showed that 45% believed that a wife should be concerned with the household and the husband should work outside, but 49% disagreed. 37.7% said that a woman should continue to work after having a child, while 36.6% believed that she should only return to work when the child is older.