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Japan's government is going to play Cupid in attempt to encourage more couples to have babies. country has one of lowest birth rates in world and politicians are turning to novel methods to get people to add to population. One of these methods is local authorities acting as matchmakers. Japan's national government will support any local government effort at speed dating, online matchmaking and other ways to coax couples to get together and start families. draft recommendations call for intensive efforts over next five years. report says Japan faces "critical situation" in which dwindling number of children could cause serious social problems for country.

One reason government has found for Japan's falling birth rate is rising cost of raising children. government hopes to address this with variety of measures. These include plans to improve access to free nursery care, special centres for people undergoing fertility treatment, and target to increase number of fathers taking paternity leave after their baby is born to 80 per cent by year 2020. There are also plans to provide greater support for families with three or more children. By 2060, nearly 40 per cent of Japan’s population will be aged over 65. over-65s already constitute 25 per cent of population. birth rate has fallen steadily from 4.54 children per mother in 1947 to just 1.42 in 2014.