FUKUOKA - Kitakyushu, whose population is on the verge of falling below 900,000, announced new measures on October 16th aimed at reversing the decline, with a strong focus on improving education to attract and retain families.
The city's estimated population as of September 1st stood at 900,494, bringing it dangerously close to dropping below the 900,000 mark. While efforts have been made to create new jobs and strengthen medical services, the city continues to face challenges in education, where students’ results in national academic tests remain below the national average.
To address this, the city plans to expand the use of AI-based learning tools and enrich reading programs to help students become more independent learners. It also aims to offer more experiential learning opportunities — such as field trips and hands-on activities — to minimize disparities caused by differences in family environments.
"We must build a city that values every individual in areas like employment, healthcare, and education," a city official said.
Kitakyushu, which once became the first city in Kyushu to surpass a population of 1 million, is now grappling with one of the fastest-aging populations among designated cities in Japan. The city’s population peaked at around 1.07 million in 1979, but began declining as its core industries relocated elsewhere. It fell below 1 million in 2005, and now, accelerated aging is pushing it closer to dropping under 900,000.
Source: FBS福岡放送ニュース
