Continued population decline: A city where young people can have hope: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

The Population Strategy Council, a private organization, has published a report that considers 744 municipalities to be at risk of disappearing in the future. Ten years ago, another group pointed out that 896 local governments were at risk of disappearing, but it is hard to say that effective measures have been taken since then.

We take the warning bells that have been sounded once again seriously, and we want to use our wisdom to create livable communities where young people and future generations can have hope.

The report defines local governments that are at risk of disappearing as less than half of them will be women in their 20s and 30s, who are the primary child-bearing generation, in the 30 years from 2020 to 2050, and that will be unable to maintain administrative operations due to population decline. The 744 municipalities affected account for over 40% of the total.

Although this is a decrease from 896 local governments 10 years ago, the report analyzes the impact of an increase in the influx of foreigners. He points out that the birth rate among Japanese women is declining, and that the decline in population is not a situation that can be optimistic.

It was pointed out 10 years ago that local governments would disappear, and this sent shockwaves through many local governments, but as people were more interested in measures to prevent social decline, which is a sign of population movement, rather than measures to deal with the natural decline in births and deaths, local governments competed for people, and the whole of Japan This did not lead to a rise in the population.

The report called municipalities such as Tokyo, which have a large influx of people but low birthrates, “black hole municipalities” and called for the need to take countermeasures.

Even if the influx of young people from rural areas increases, it will not solve the fundamental problem if the birth rate remains low. Creating an environment conducive to giving birth and raising children should be a priority in urban areas.

Tokyo’s Toshima Ward, which has escaped the status of a municipality in danger of disappearing, has made efforts to improve daycare centers and make school lunches free at municipal elementary and junior high schools. Tobishima Village, Aichi Prefecture, has stepped up support such as housing land development and birth gift money. I hope other local governments will reconsider their countermeasures based on previous cases.

In Okinawa Prefecture, where there is a strong sense of local support for raising children, the number of “independent and sustainable local governments” stands out. Another effective measure would be to re-strengthen local bonds and develop the “child-rearing skills” of residents to watch over the younger generation and their children.

The situation in which young women from rural areas are forced to choose non-regular employment is a factor that causes them to migrate to urban areas. We live in an era where more and more couples are working and raising children together. It is also the responsibility of companies to secure employment where women can continue to work with peace of mind, regardless of region.

I would like to point out that in order to avoid the disappearance of local governments, it is essential not only to take population measures, but also to improve administrative efficiency, such as consolidating administrative facilities and wide-area cooperation among local governments.