Tokyo Introduces Four-Day Work Week

Tokyo is set to implement a four-day work week starting April 2025, aiming to combat Japan's declining birth rates and improve work-life balance. Governor Yuriko Koike announced this initiative, emphasizing the need for flexible work styles that allow parents to balance career and family responsibilities. Japan's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.2, far below the 2.1 needed for population stability, with only 727,277 births recorded last year. The new policy also includes provisions for parents of elementary students to leave work early for a salary reduction, addressing the challenge of balancing work and childcare. Sociologists attribute low birth rates to Japan's demanding work culture and significant gender gaps in labor participation. The four-day work week is part of broader efforts to encourage family growth amidst an aging population and labor shortages.