TOKYO — Japanese writer and former political candidate Kotoe Hashimoto drew widespread attention after announcing the birth of her seventh child amid Japan’s continuing decline in births.
Hashimoto announced on X on Aug. 29 that she had given birth, sharing a photo of herself holding her newborn and thanking the medical staff who cared for them. The post had received about 27 million views on X, while a related Facebook post had gained 10,800 likes.
In a follow-up post the same day, Hashimoto thanked people who sent congratulatory messages and urged Japanese women to have more children.
“I believe that now is the time for Japanese women to have children,” she said. “The rise and fall of our nation depends on the active role of women.”
Her comments drew responses from Japanese social media users, with some praising her for having seven children and agreeing with her concerns about the country’s demographic outlook.
Hashimoto ran under the Party of Hope during Japan’s 2017 general election but failed to win a seat. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike founded the conservative party, which disbanded in October 2021.
Hashimoto has continued using social media to discuss Japan’s demographic challenges and advocate for higher birth rates.
Her seventh child arrived as Japan recorded another decline in its fertility rate. The country’s total fertility rate fell to 1.14 in 2025 from 1.15 a year earlier, according to the Welfare Ministry. The figure marked the lowest level since comparable records began in 1947.
Japan faces growing pressure from its aging population and shrinking workforce. Rising social security costs also continue to strain public finances as the government seeks funding for defense and other economic initiatives.