2024.01.29 外刊双语精读 日本人口统计：生育津贴.docx

【1.29】

1.29每日一篇双语精读

Japanese?demography：Reproduction?perks

?

AfewJapanesecitiesare?bucking?thelowbirthrate

?

【1】KISHIKINORIYOpullsupoutsideahouseinAkashi,acityinwestern]apan.ina?truck?emblazoned?withaheartlogoandtheslogan:“Diaperdelivery:wealso?deliver?kindness."Shestepsoutwithtwobagsof?nappies.HiguchiMiki,ayoungmother.appearsatthefrontdoorwithababyonherhip.MsKishikiisonthefrontlineofaten-yearpushbyAkashitoencourageitsresidentstohavechildren.It?includes?deliveringfreebabyfoodaswellas?nappies,freemedicalcareandschoollunches.Theeffortseemstobepayingoff.Akashi'spopulationhasincreasedfortenyearsinarow,tomorethan?300,000.

?

【2】Thismakesthetown?exceptional.Japan'sbirthrate?dipped?belowthe?replacement?levelof?2.1?childrenperwomaninthemid-1970sandhasbeen?steadily?declining?eversince.In?2022?thetotalnumberofbirths?dropped?below?800,000?forthefirsttimesincerecordsbeganin?1899.OfJapan's1,800?municipalities,onlyaround?200?havearisingpopulation.AccordingtoKishidaFumio,theprimeminister,thishasputthecountryon"the?brink".

?

【3】EveninAkashi,whichisaneasy?commute?fromthecitiesofOsakaandKobe,mostofthegrowthisfrom?migration,notbirths.Thetown'sbirthrateis?1.65.Yetgiventhatthenationalfigureis?1.3.this?represents?successofasort.schoolsareclosingacrossJapanforwantof?pupils;Akashiisshortofschoolplaces.

?

【4】Manyofthe?obstacles?toyoungJapanese?forming?families,fromhigheducationcoststo?inflexible?familylawscanonlybe?tackled?withnationalpolicies.ButAkashishowshowlocal?communities?canmakeadifference.Thatstartswithimprovingaccesstonurseriesanddaycare.smallerprojectssuchasMsKishiki's,which?assist?parentsofyoungchildren,alsohelp.

?

【5】ThepopulationofNagareyama,acommutertownoutsideTokyo,isalso?booming.Overthepastdecadeithasgrownby24%,to?211,000.