Japan PM Takaichi declares population decline a national crisis, vows strategy by year-end

In her first policy speech to parliament, PM Sanae Takaichi framed Japan's demographic decline as a 'quietly advancing national crisis' and pledged a comprehensive population strategy by end-2026. The move signals a policy priority shift toward demographic intervention, though concrete measures remain unspecified. This matters as Japan's shrinking workforce and aging society pressure fiscal sustainability and economic growth.