JAPANESE BIRTHS HIT RECORD LOW

From Tokyo Metropolis:

The number of new-born Japanese babies fell for an eighth consecutive year, to a record low in 2023, according to preliminary government data released on Tuesday.

The number of births fell 5.1% from a year earlier to 758,631, while the number of marriages slid 5.9% to 489,281 - marking the first time in 90 years the number fell below 500,000.

In order to make up for the falling birth rate infantilzation efforts will be redoubled.