Japan's conservative leader faces backlash over controversial comments on women's reproductive health

Naoki Hyakuta, leader of Japan's Conservative Party, suggested that women over 30 should have their wombs removed and be banned from marriage if they are older than 25. His comments aimed to address Japan's declining birth rate but were met with widespread backlash. Japan's birth rate has fallen for eight consecutive years, with only 727,277 babies born in 2023, the lowest since records began in 1899. The fertility rate is currently at 1.2, and marriages decreased by 6% last year. Following the criticism, Hyakuta apologized, claiming his remarks were a "hypothetical idea" and not a personal belief. He described his comments as a "science-fiction storyline" intended to provoke discussion on the issue.