Japan government launches meetings to develop population strategy

The Japanese government has held its first meeting regarding a new population strategy aimed at addressing the nation's continuous demographic decline since 2008. Minister for Social Security Reform Minoru Jounai described the population decrease as a “national crisis” that requires a unified vision involving the government, local municipalities, and the private sector.

The government intends to finalize a comprehensive population strategy by the end of the year. Discussions during the initial meeting highlighted the need for simulations to predict population shifts based on various scenarios, including birth rates, foreign resident numbers, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce.

Future deliberations will focus on strengthening measures to combat the declining birth rate and enhancing human resource development. The government is also planning to convene an expert panel, which may include former Internal Affairs Minister Hiroya Masuda, to further refine these policies.