The story of the Japanese village without babies for 25 years

According to CNN, a quarter of a century without children, coupled with the departure of young people and the death of the elderly, has led to a sharp decline in the population of Kawakami. Forty years ago, the village had a population of 6,000, but now it has just 1,150. Many houses are abandoned and many places have been invaded by wild animals.

Kawakami is just one of many small towns and villages in Japan that have been forgotten as young people move to cities. More than 90% of Japan's population lives in urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

Kentaro Yokobori's family. Photo: Futa Nagao

This has resulted in a severe labor shortage in rural areas, a situation that is likely to worsen in the coming years as the current workforce ages. In 2022, the number of people working in agriculture and forestry in Japan will fall to 1.9 million from 2.25 million 10 years ago.

"Time is running out"

“There is not much time left to have children,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a recent press conference. Citing demographic data, the prime minister warned earlier this year that Japan was “on the verge of being unable to maintain social functions.”

In 2022, Japan recorded a record low of 799,728 births. The country’s fertility rate (the average number of children born to women of childbearing age) also fell to 1.3, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain population stability. For more than a decade, deaths have also outpaced births.

While the workforce is shrinking, the country's leaders cannot ignore the task of funding pensions and health care for the elderly – a growing population in the world's third-largest economy.

For many young people, having children is too expensive because of busy urban lifestyles, rising living costs and long working hours that leave little time for starting a family. In addition, having children also makes it difficult for women to return to work as before.

Japan hopes to tackle the problem by offering incentives. Municipal governments are starting to subsidize egg freezing to give women a better chance of having a successful pregnancy if they decide to have children later.

New parents will receive thousands of dollars in “baby bonuses” to cover medical costs. Singles will be offered state-funded dating services powered by AI.

Ray of hope

Back with the Yokobori family, Miho and Hirohito moved to Kawakami about a decade ago. They arrived unaware that most of the residents were past retirement age. Over the years, they have witnessed the passing of the elderly and the gradual erosion of long-standing community traditions.

However, a small ray of hope can be seen in the story of Yokobori’s parents. Kentaro’s birth was a miracle not only because he was the first baby born in the village, but also because his parents had moved from the city to the countryside, bucking decades of trends.

Recent surveys show that more and more young people like Miho and Hirohito are considering leaving the city for the countryside. They are realizing the appeal of rural life, attracted by the low cost of living, clean air and low-stress lifestyle.

Miho and Hirohito decided to move to the countryside after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan 12 years ago. Putting aside their insecurities, the Yokoboris decided to quit their jobs in the city and move to a simple house in the mountains. They opened a bed and breakfast, Hirohito learned woodworking and specialized in making cedar barrels for sake breweries. Miho stayed home as a housewife. They raised chickens, grew vegetables, chopped firewood and looked after Kentaro.

The big question for both Kawakami and other areas in Japan is, "Is Kentaro's birth a sign of better times to come or just a miracle in an aging society?"