Women in Okinawa have more babies and live longer than women from almost anywhere else in Japan.
If data from the statistics bureau and labor ministry are any guide, it has as much to do with work-life balance as the prefecture's sun-drenched beaches and crystal-clear waters.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare statistics on average number of children per woman, of which the most recent data is from 2013, women in Okinawa give birth to an average 1.94 children over their lifetime, the highest rate in Japan. Tokyo comes in last, with women in the capital on average having 1.13 babies.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.