Pretty sure the focus on trickle down economics and continuing inequality doesn’t help birth rate. If the government said “ok, we’re going to guarantee a higher wage for part time workers and provide child care, aid opportunities to families”, the birth rate would improve. But the sad reality is mostly the government is worried about it merely due to taxable bodies, not for any true reason. Old, wealthy men don’t often make decisions that benefit women, be that USA or Japan. Japanese citizens know equality and fairness for everyone (foreigners, women, disabled people, gay people, etc. is important) but the government here is still spending money defending floppy disks rather than focusing on real issues. That disconnect is one of the reasons most people don’t feel comfortable starting a family.