The Tokyo Metropolitan Government started a new subsidy programme in October 2025 to help mothers pay for epidural anaesthesia during childbirth. An epidural is a type of pain relief used when giving birth. In the first six months, more than 12,000 people in Tokyo applied for the programme, which was more than the government expected.

The main reason for the high number of applications is that childbirth with pain relief is becoming more popular in Japan. In the past, most Japanese women gave birth without medical pain relief because of traditional beliefs.

As a result of the programme, many families can now afford epidurals, as the government gives up to 100,000 yen to each qualified mother. Officials hope this will make childbirth less difficult and help raise Tokyo’s low birth rate by reducing the financial and physical challenges of giving birth.