More than 20 years have passed since calls first began for the nation to take adequate measures to cope with the declining birthrate. But little progress has been made in this respect.

Failure to provide sufficient support for people raising children will have a devastating effect on the future of the nation. But judging by the campaign promises made in the runup to Sunday's Upper House election, political parties don't seem to be giving this grim situation much thought.

Political parties must seriously take into account the significance of a forecast that shows people 65 years old or older will account for 40 percent of Japan's population by 2060 and work out convincing concrete proposals to raise the nation's birthrate.