“Three Crying at Once” and Childcare Budget Debate in Japan

Key Facts

• On April 9, Member of the National Democratic Party, Maria Hino, questioned the Diet on declining birthrate and childcare support.
• Hino is a mother of four, including triplets, and shared personal childcare struggles.
• She emphasized Japan’s medical and health insurance system’s role in her family’s well-being.
• Highlighted shortages of personnel and funds in childcare facilities amid nuclear families and dual-income households.
• Stressed that new policies fail without securing and training human resources.
• Described simultaneous crying of triplets and a one-year-old, with 24-hour nonstop crying.
• Asked if the current fiscal year’s budget sufficiently addresses these challenges.
• Proposed establishing a dedicated Diet committee focused solely on child policy, separate from the “Regional Revitalization, Child Policy, and Digital Society Formation” special committee.
• Received strong applause and support from the chamber.
• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded that the government secured necessary budgets, implementing a 3.6 trillion yen acceleration plan.
• Noted ongoing evaluation and enhancement of child future strategies.
• Reported about 39% cumulative improvement in childcare workers’ treatment since fiscal 2013.
• On creating a separate committee for child policy, Takaichi said it requires ruling and opposition party negotiations and the government has no position.
• Source: ABEMA NEWS, April 9, 2026.

Summary

At the April 9 Diet session, Maria Hino, a mother of four including triplets, raised critical issues about Japan’s declining birthrate and childcare support. She shared vivid personal experiences of managing simultaneous crying from multiple children, underscoring the urgent need for more human resources and funding in childcare services. Hino questioned whether the current budget adequately meets these needs and called for a dedicated parliamentary committee focused exclusively on child policy to strengthen legislative oversight. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi affirmed the government’s commitment through a 3.6 trillion yen acceleration plan and improvements in childcare worker conditions but deferred the decision on committee restructuring to inter-party discussions. The exchange highlighted ongoing challenges in Japan’s child-rearing environment and the government’s approach to addressing them through policy and budgetary measures.