In a groundbreaking move to address Japan's record-low fertility rates, Tokyo's metropolitan government announced plans to implement a four-day workweek for its employees starting April 2025.
The initiative, revealed by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, will allow over 160,000 city employees to take Fridays off, providing three-day weekends to help balance work and family life. The policy specifically targets working parents struggling with Japan's demanding work culture.
Japan faces a deepening demographic crisis, with the fertility rate dropping to just 1.2 children per woman in 2023 - far below the 2.1 rate needed for population stability. Between January and June 2023, the country recorded only 350,074 births, the lowest six-month figure since record-keeping began in 1969.
"We'll keep reviewing our work styles flexibly so that nobody has to give up their careers due to life events such as childbirth and childcare," stated Governor Koike during a policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
The program includes additional family-friendly measures, such as allowing parents with children in grades one through three to reduce their working hours by up to two hours daily for a slightly reduced salary.
While Japan's central government has encouraged companies to adopt four-day workweeks since 2021, only about 8% have implemented such policies. Tokyo's initiative represents one of the boldest steps yet to reform the country's work culture and support family growth.
Research supports the potential benefits of shorter workweeks. A 2022 University of Cambridge study found that 71% of employees reported lower burnout levels with a four-day schedule proposed, while staff turnover decreased by 57% during trial periods.
As Japan's population continues aging, with nearly 30% now over 65, the success of Tokyo's innovative approach could influence workplace policies nationwide and help reverse the country's concerning demographic trends.