May 13, 2023

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Japan is cold-hearted in regard to policies related to childbirth and childrearing. One of the major factors is the continuation of gender roles which foist the burden of caring for children mainly onto women's shoulders. This idea is deeply ingrained in the areas of politics, economy, and society overall. The promotion of gender equality is vital for Japan to be a society "friendly" to co-parenting.

The UN Population Fund in its State of the World Population 2023 suggested that countries plagued by the falling birthrate work to ensure societal/economic development through the promotion of gender equality.

The report points out that gender inequality in the workplace and at home as well as a lack of structural support for working families characterize low-fertility countries as opposed to countries with higher fertility. The report reveals that in the countries where the fertility rate is low such as Japan and South Korea, it is traditionally the woman who is expected to take care of the children and all the housework by herself.

Regarding low birthrates, UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem in her statement at the global release of the report 2023 stressed, "Blaming women for producing an insufficient supply of babies ignores much more viable solutions that can be implemented while respecting human rights." She added, "[A]ging, low-fertility countries can increase productivity by achieving gender parity in the workforce, expanding access to affordable childcare, and by allowing migration to fill labor shortages."

It has been more than 30 years since solutions to the low birthrate became an important political agenda in Japan. The elimination of the stereotyped perception of "men taking jobs" and "women taking care of household chores" has long been called for. However, no sign of improvement is visible.

The government ruled by the Liberal Democratic Party is to blame for this. The LDP glosses over the family institution specified under the prewar Constitution of Empire of Japan (Meiji Constitution) as Japanese "tradition" and keeps the outdated idea of the natural predominance of men over women. It is the LDP government that hampers people from balancing work and childrearing better, discouraging many young people from getting married, giving birth, and raising children. The government bears a grave responsibility for resolving this situation.