According to The Guardian, the birth rate in Nagi was 2.95 in 2019, slightly decreasing to 2.68 in 2021. However, this figure is more than double the average birth rate for Japan, which is 1.3. The Japanese government recently projected that the country's population will decline sharply from over 125 million today to 87 million by 2070.

Along with a declining population, the economy is shrinking, putting immense pressure on families and the labor market. Amid warnings from Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio that the falling birth rate threatens the country's growth potential, Nagi, with its 5,700 residents, is known as Japan's "miracle town."

Yuko Sugawara (left) and Manami Kuroyabu at a children's care facility in Nagi, Japan. Photo: The Guardian

Over the past two decades, Nagi has implemented local initiatives to transform this agricultural town into an ideal place to raise children, thereby boosting the birth rate. In addition, Nagi provides generous financial support and childcare.

Takamasa Matsushita, a father of two and head of the information and planning department in Nagi town, said: “We are trying to make raising children more enjoyable by eliminating the worries parents might have about finances or if their children get sick. This will allow them to balance family life and work.”

Speaking to The Guardian, Yukie Kaneko, 28, who has two daughters aged 3 and 3 months, said she and her husband have talked about having a third, or even a fourth child. Families with three children are not uncommon in Nagi, where young families qualify for financial assistance, including a one-time payment of 100,000 yen per child upon birth.

According to town statistics, 47% of households in Nagi have three or more children. Here, children receive free healthcare until they reach 18 years of age. Families also don't have to pay for textbooks until their children complete compulsory education at age 15. In addition, the town government subsidizes school meals and bus fares for students. In an effort to encourage young families to have children, the town also provides them with three-bedroom houses at a relatively low monthly rent of 50,000 yen.

In Nagi, residents actively participate in supporting families with young children. At the Shigoto no Conbini convenience store, people aged 20 to 70 perform tasks assigned by the town council, from cleaning public restrooms to delivering mail. Yoshikazu Kuwamura, the store manager, said the program connects businesses with women of childbearing age, retirees, and those who haven't worked for years.

“Parents can leave their children here while they work, or in the fields, and someone will look after them,” said Yoshikazu. Meanwhile, Hiroko Kaihara, a staff member at the daycare center, is always ready to offer advice to mothers who come here on everything from breastfeeding and changing diapers to dealing with tantrums. “They come here to talk about anything that’s happening in their lives, not just about their children,” Hiroko said. “Some come every day, others only once a week. Everyone is welcome. We want residents to raise their children openly.”

Most young couples in Nagi don't feel overwhelmed by the pressure of having children. Manami Kuroyabu, who has three children, said, "It's an easy place to raise kids. I don't feel alone. There's always someone to help with childcare, and there are plenty of opportunities for the kids to play together."

For her part, Yuko Sugawara, who has a one-year-old daughter and is pregnant with her second child, believes that financial support is only one reason for Nagi's high birth rate. Yuko shared, "It's not simply a matter of finances. When we look around and see families with three or even four children, we think we can do that too."

LAM ANH