A new solution to the problems of late marriage, non marriage, and low birth rate in Japan: a clever trick of subsidizing student associations

In recent years, with the increasing problems of late marriage, non marriage, and low birth rates, the Japanese government has been constantly troubled by these issues. Although the central and local governments have introduced policies for childbirth and support subsidies, these measures have not seen significant results. Therefore, Japanese society is beginning to consider whether a subsidy policy that breaks away from traditional thinking is needed. Recently, the Okayama County government announced that it will subsidize the organization of “student associations” as a new measure to address the issue of low birth rates, sparking heated discussions. So, can meeting old classmates actually increase marriage and birth rates? Let’s explore together.

Okayama County Magistrate’s viewpoint: Late marriage and non marriage are the fundamental reasons for the declining birthrate

Okayama County Magistrate pointed out, “I believe that late marriage and non marriage are the fundamental reasons for Japan’s declining birthrate. I don’t want more and more people to regret ‘if only they got married earlier’

He further emphasized, “Getting married and having children early is beneficial for both personal happiness and society

Last year (2023), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the launch of a “non-dimensional strategy to address the issues of delayed marriage, non marriage, and low birth rates in Japan.

However, so far the central government has not introduced any effective plans, leading the public to question whether this is just empty slogans.

Innovative measures in Okayama County: Subsidizing the organization of student associations

The recent proposal by the Okayama County Government to reduce the number of children in different dimensions is to subsidize the organization of “student associations”! This seemingly peculiar policy has sparked widespread discussion. If one does not have the courage to confess or fall in love during their school years, many people often drift away from their crush after graduation, and even break off contact, regretting it for life.

By providing tax subsidies to hold class reunions, Okayama Prefecture hopes to frequently create opportunities for old classmates to reunite. This move may revive the love of the past, or rediscover the strengths of a classmate, thereby increasing the marriage and birth rates.

Implementation details and discussions of policies

At present, each township first distributes subsidies, and then the county government subsidizes township funds, targeting individuals under the age of 30. This unprecedented policy of reducing birth rates quickly sparked discussions across Japan. From the internet to political talk shows, people are discussing whether subsidizing student associations is really effective.

Supporters’ viewpoint:

Some people believe that “class reunions can serve as an opportunity. If the problem of low birth rates can really be improved, then those born children will become a source of tax revenue in the future and contribute to society

The opposition’s viewpoint:

The opposition expressed concern, “I feel that someone will definitely abuse this system, and it may even lead to an increase in extramarital affairs

Practical Operation of Subsidy Rules: The Example of Nayi Town

Due to the fact that Okayama County allows each township to develop its own subsidy rules, the subsidy methods vary from place to place and are considered too complex. Taking Naiyi Town as an example, its subsidy rules are as follows:

objectGraduates from elementary or junior high schools in Nayi Town.

subsidyEach student union is held once a year, with a subsidy of 1000 yen per participant (up to a maximum of 30000 yen).

conditionThe alumni association must be held in Nayi Town, with a minimum of 20 participants, and more than 30% of the participants must reside outside of Nayi Town. A promotion or questionnaire survey about moving to Nayi Town is required at the class reunion.

Expectations and Future Prospects of Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture hopes to alleviate the problem of low birth rates by frequently holding class reunions to encourage young people to consider getting married and having children. Whether this creative policy can truly play a role still needs time to verify. Despite controversy, this measure may provide new ideas and references for other local governments.

Anyway, solving the problem of low birth rates requires multi-faceted efforts and innovation. Whether the policy of subsidizing student associations is effective still needs to be observed, but this attempt undoubtedly plays a positive role in promoting social attention and discussion on the issue of low birth rates.

The problem of declining birth rates is one of the important challenges facing modern society. The policy of subsidizing student associations proposed by Okayama Prefecture in Japan, although controversial, is still an innovative attempt. In the future, whether this policy can bring practical effects still needs time to test. However, through this innovative measure, society’s discussion and attention to the issue of low birth rates continue to deepen, opening up more possibilities for solving this problem.