"Get 2.6 Million Won for Egg Freezing"... Over 5,000 Applicants Flock to Low Birthrate Support Program

30 Man Yen Subsidy for Egg Freezing and Preservation
For Healthy Women Aged 18-39 Living in Tokyo
Online Briefing Attendance Required as Subsidy Condition

Tokyo Metropolitan Government in Japan has decided to implement a subsidy program for egg freezing and preservation costs as part of its low birthrate countermeasures, with attendance at an online briefing session set as a condition for receiving the subsidy. This sparked a heated response, with over 5,000 applicants.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 23rd, if eggs are frozen and preserved at designated medical institutions in preparation for future pregnancy and childbirth, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will subsidize up to 300,000 yen (approximately 2.61 million KRW). The egg freezing and preservation cost subsidy program targets healthy women aged 18 to 39 residing in Tokyo.

Egg Freezing, Recognized as a Representative Low Birthrate Countermeasure

[Image source=Pixabay]

As a condition for receiving the subsidy, applicants must attend a briefing session hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This session covers comprehensive information about egg freezing and preservation.

Upon hearing this news, 5,000 women of childbearing age living in Tokyo applied, showing a strong response. According to Tokyo Metropolitan Government data, as of the evening of the 20th, 5,018 women had applied to attend. By age group, women in their late 30s accounted for 2,690, more than half. Women in their early 30s numbered 1,845, making up 90% of applicants in their 30s.

Since the first briefing session on the 29th of last month, a total of 33 sessions have been held until the 16th of this month, with about 2,800 attendees. Among them, 909 applied for the subsidy. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government had initially expected about 300 applicants this year, so the actual number far exceeded expectations.

However, Tokyo Metropolitan Government stated that it plans to provide subsidies to all applicants, saying, "We will respond to the wishes of women."

Japan's total fertility rate (the number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime) fell to 1.26 last year, marking the lowest point in 17 years. As the annual number of births dropped below 800,000 last year, the Japanese government is preparing various measures to encourage childbirth.
[Photo by EPA·Yonhap News]

Japan’s total fertility rate (the expected number of children a woman will have in her lifetime) dropped to 1.26 last year, the lowest in 17 years. With the annual number of births falling below 800,000 last year, the Japanese government is preparing various measures to encourage childbirth.

As part of childbirth and childcare support measures, the Japanese government also plans to make the childbirth and childcare support grant, which provides a total of 100,000 yen (about 860,000 KRW) at pregnancy and childbirth, a permanent system starting in fiscal year 2025.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.