Japan Rejects Proposal to Pay Women to Move from Tokyo and Marry

The Japanese government has abandoned a controversial plan that aimed to combat the country’s declining birth rate by offering financial incentives to women to marry men living in rural areas. The plan, which involved paying women 600,000 yen (approximately €3,700) and providing free train tickets to matchmaking events, was met with widespread backlash, particularly on social media. Critics argued that the plan was sexist and demeaning, and many women expressed outrage at the suggestion that they would be motivated to move to rural areas solely for financial gain. The government’s decision to scrap the plan comes as many rural areas in Japan face a severe demographic crisis due to the exodus of young people to major cities. However, critics argue that this proposal was not a sustainable solution and may have further exacerbated existing gender inequalities.