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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Maroosha Muzaffar

Japanese fathers should be forced to take childcare leave, expert says

Hiroshi Yoshida warns that if Japan’s birthrate continues its current decline, the nation will be left with only one child under the age of 14 by 5 January 2720 - (Maroosha Muzaffar)

A Japanese expert on demographic trends and ageing society has suggested mandating childcare leaves for fathers as one of the ways to boost the country’s plummeting birth rate.

Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Tohoku University’s Research Center for Aged Economy and Society, told The Independent that childcare leave for fathers should be significantly increased and made more common in Japan, similar to the policies in Scandinavian countries.

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