Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. It has a shocking fertility rate of 1.26 births per woman with three people dying with every child born, according to the World Bank.
A fertility rate of 2.1 is required to maintain population stability.
This paints a grim picture for the Asian nation's future. In an effort to curb its collapse, the Japanese government is implementing a four-day work week.
The Tokyo government said that the new arrangement would begin in April and provide workers with three days off every week.
Additionally, it will implement a programme that will allow parents with children in Grades 1 through 3 to swap a portion of their compensation for the ability to clock out early.
"We will review work styles with flexibility, ensuring that no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare," Tokyo's governor said in a speech.
She added that this is the moment for the city to take the initiative to preserve and improve the lives, livelihoods, and economy of its people during these difficult times.
"Japan's fertility crisis predominantly stems from the increased freedom young people, especially women, are now privy to in modern societies. The Japanese government, known for its conservative legislation, has struggled to adapt with modern autonomy," wrote Vincent Mathew in academic article for the University of Michigan.
He continued: "Consequently, Japan, now mired by wage stagnation coupled with increasing childcare costs and a rapidly ageing labour force, is forced to reckon with gender disparities perpetuated by strenuous workplace culture and traditionalist values that have led to their declining birth rate."
The nation's work culture is notoriously brutal with the existence of a term for those who die from exhaustion while working, karoshi.
According to the Pulitzer Centre, when the first occurrences of karoshi were documented in the late 20th century, the primary causes of death for workers were heart attacks or strokes.
However, in the early 21st century, karoshi workers predominantly committed suicide as a result of working stress and harassment.
This has inevitably led to disruption to family life and the work-life balance.
IOL