Tokyo will provide free daycare services for firstborn children starting September 2025, Governor Yuriko Koike announced. The initiative aims to reduce financial burdens on families and encourage higher birth rates amid Japan’s population crisis.
Under the plan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will fully cover costs for private daycare services, while expenses for public centers will be split with municipal governments.
This move is part of Japan’s broader strategy to address its declining birthrate. Previous policies introduced free daycare for children aged 3 to 5 in 2019 and later extended support for second and subsequent children under 2.
Governor Koike emphasized the urgency of tackling the population issue, stating, “There is not a moment to lose.” Surveys have indicated that financial pressures and limited opportunities for marriage contribute to Japan’s declining birthrate.
