Japanese author with seven children becomes voice for nation's demographic crisis
Kotoe Hashimoto's announcement of her seventh child has sparked national conversation as Japan faces its lowest birth rate since 1899, with deaths outnumbering births by nearly one million in 2025.
Japanese author with seven children becomes voice for nation's demographic crisis
A 37-year-old Japanese author and former political candidate has captured national attention after announcing the birth of her seventh child, positioning herself as an advocate for larger families at a time when Japan faces its most severe demographic crisis on record.
Kotoe Hashimoto shared news of her newborn on social media in August, expressing gratitude to medical staff and supporters. "I have given birth to my seventh child! Thank you all for your support and encouragement! I express my deepest gratitude to the doctors, midwives, and nurses for their dedicated efforts," she wrote alongside a photo of her baby.
Her announcement comes against a stark demographic backdrop. In 2025, Japan recorded just 671,236 births among Japanese nationals, marking the tenth consecutive year of decline and the lowest level since comparable records began in 1899. The nation's total fertility rate fell to 1.14, far below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population.
The crisis has accelerated beyond government forecasts. The 2025 birth figure arrived 15 years ahead of projections made in 2023, which had estimated births would not fall to around 670,000 until 2040. Over the past decade, annual births have dropped roughly 30 percent, with declines exceeding 5 percent annually between 2022 and 2024.
Hashimoto's family size stands in dramatic contrast to national trends. In 2023, Japanese households with children averaged just 1.65 unmarried minors. Single-child households accounted for the largest share at 49.3 percent, followed by 38.0 percent with two children and only 12.7 percent with three or more.
Following her hospital discharge on September 2, Hashimoto issued a call to action for Japanese women. "I believe that now is the time for Japanese women to have children. The rise and fall of our nation depends on the active role of women," she wrote, urging others to consider expanding their families.
Geographic and demographic challenges
The crisis manifests unevenly across Japan. Tokyo's fertility rate fell to 0.96 in 2025, becoming the first Japanese prefecture to drop below 1.0, followed by Miyagi and Hokkaido at 1.00. The capital's rate represents less than half the replacement level needed for population stability.
In 2025, deaths in Japan outnumbered births by 918,253, marking the 19th consecutive year of natural population decline. The country's population is projected to fall from approximately 123.8 million in 2024 to 87 million by 2070, with 40 percent expected to be over 65 years old.
Government response and political background
The Japanese government has launched major initiatives to reverse the trend, including a 3.6 trillion yen acceleration plan that aims to double child care spending by the early 2030s and increase parental leave benefits to 100 percent of take-home pay.
Hashimoto brings political experience to her advocacy. She ran as a candidate for the Party of Hope during Japan's 2017 general election but was not elected. The conservative party, founded by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, disbanded in October 2021.
In her recent posts, Hashimoto confirmed both she and her newborn are doing well, thanking supporters and asking them to watch over her child "as they begin their journey as a Japanese citizen, with the birth registration submitted."
