Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the financial struggles of middle-class families in Japan, particularly focusing on a case study of a family with an annual income of 12 million yen, which is perceived as affluent but does not translate into actual financial security due to high living costs and insufficient support from government policies [1][5][11]. Financial Situation - The family's gross annual income is 12 million yen, but after taxes and social insurance, their disposable income is reduced to approximately 8 million yen [2][4]. - Monthly expenses leave the family with only about 200,000 yen for daily living costs, which must cover utilities, groceries, and children's education, leading to a precarious financial situation [4][10]. Government Policies - Current child support policies in Japan have income caps that exclude middle-income families from receiving benefits, leaving them without necessary financial assistance [5][10]. - Recent changes to university tuition reduction policies for families with three or more children provide limited relief, as benefits are contingent on having multiple children enrolled simultaneously [7][10]. Social and Educational Pressures - The burden of childcare and education falls heavily on families, with inadequate public resources for early childhood education and varying quality in public schools, forcing parents to seek additional private tutoring [12][13]. - The societal expectation for women to prioritize family over career exacerbates the challenges faced by working mothers, limiting their ability to return to the workforce after childbirth [12][13]. Demographic Trends - Japan's declining birth rate is highlighted, with only 680,000 newborns in 2024 and an average fertility rate of 1.15, significantly below the replacement level of 2.07 [11][15]. - The article suggests that the real issue is not the desire to have children but the fear and financial insecurity that prevent families from expanding [15][16].