Japan's total fertility rate (TFR) is currently around 1.2, far below the 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain the current population size.
More worryingly, the country's live birth rate has been declining since 1973.
In response to the demographic crisis, the Japanese government has launched emergency policies including a four-day workweek system proposed for 2021.
The policy also includes half-day holidays that allow employees to work only half a day, such as working in the morning and taking a break in the afternoon.
The move is intended to balance work and life, but has raised concerns, especially in labor-scarce sectors such as hospitals and schools.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as a "silent emergency" and vowed to implement family-friendly initiatives to boost the birth rate.
In 2024, Japan's population will decline by 0.75% to 908,574, bringing the total population to 120.65 million.
The main question now is whether flexible work policies can stop Japan's declining birth rate and support demographic recovery?
