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Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare considers making childbirth free nationwide

  • December 2, 2025


Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare considers making childbirth free nationwide

by jjrs

14 comments

  1. It’s already pretty nice. Having a baby here is affordable because of the birth allowance, and children’s healthcare is subsidized by local governments, making medical treatment essentially free until age 15–18. 

    People just don’t want to have kids and think about this: obstetricians and gynecologists who handle childbirth in some areas are struggling to stay afloat.

  2. Ohhhhh they’re so close to getting it. Here’s a hint. Childbirth is a fixed cost, while daycare, schooling, lost wages, emotional labor, food and clothing are a ….. wait for it …… *ding ding ding* that’s right a RECURRING cost with a roughly 20-year span! Thank you for playing, out of touch ancient politicians.

  3. it really doesn’t help that often even if you want children there is massive barriers with social issues. even free childbirth is just a, at the end there is one less bill in a pile of money to be spent.

  5. And now for our sleight of hand if they make childbirth free it will be only for non complicated ones and they will remove the child bonus stipend (which typically covers the cost anyways)

  7. No point making it free when Japan has a working culture of waiting for bosses to leave before going back themselves. Kids and children need to be nurtured, and parents able to spend time throughout their childhood. The competitive economy is what makes going child-free considered a financial advantage, and having said that, even it is no longer an advantage these days.

  10. I think having the government subsidize a significant portion of children’s U-18 years would be **much** more beneficial if the government wants to avoid population collapse / importing foreigners.

    Food, education, daycare – should be almost **entirely** subsidized. If we can doll out huge pensions to seniors – there’s money there that should be re-allocated if Japan wants to remain ‘Japan’.

    Significantly slashing pensions and re-assigning that money to child care expenses would make **much more sense** to me – but alas it’s the seniors who have time to vote, and make sure that never happens. It’s disgusting that the working class is expected to sacrifice left and right to society, but are seldom thanked for their contributions…

    Oh well – we’ll just keep seeing the “It’s so sad not having grandchildren // Why aren’t there babies anymore?” articles.

  11. Meanwhile, I heard about the prime Minister’s work work work catchphrase… I think this won’t go well

  12. They don’t understand why people don’t wanna babies. I think some people didn’t want them long time ago but at that time,they cannot say that because they cared so much about culture stuff. But now they can say they don’t wanna babies!

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