An office furniture maker in Tokyo offers its staff a way to meet prospective partners as an employee benefit.

It's a free dating app that connects them to workers from about 1,000 other companies.

"I work 5 days a week."

"There are not many chances to meet people."

"So I think this is a very helpful and innovative service."

"I tend to give 100 percent to my work."

"But having this service pushes me to date someone."

This couple met through the app and married last year.

They say they were confident about using the service because it's limited to workers at the participating firms.

"With regular dating platforms, we don't know if registered people have a job or not...or whether they're using their true identity...."

"I had been single for a long time."

"My life had been just about work."

"But I'm happy that I was able to meet someone and get married."

The app is just one example of the ways Japan is pushing people to get married.

It comes as couples tying the knot last year hit the lowest level in nearly a century.

And as a child outside of marriage remains rare in Japan, the number of newborns is declining at an alarming rate.

Among the reasons people decide not to have a family, experts point to economic hardship as a major one.

Wages in Japan have been stagnant for a long time.

And while some employers have been offering pay raises in recent years,

this has lagged behind the rise in prices...so real wages are falling.

The government acknowledges the severity of the situation.

"If we don't stop the sharp decline in births, the economy and society itself will shrink."

"And it will be difficult for the country to sustain the social security system

that supports pensions as well as medical and nursing care."

An expert says change won't come until there is a foundation that gives confidence to younger generations.

"The bottom line is that we need to improve the economic situation and prop up wages especially for the low-income group."

"That way young people will be able to have hope for the future."

Fujinami points to another issue holding Japan back...

a gap in gender equality that's far wider than in other advanced nations.

For example, figures show women in the country bear the overwhelming burden of child-care and housework duties...

7-and-a-half hours a day on average compared to just over 1 hour for men.

"When there is a gender wage gap or gender promotion gap,

it's difficult to put aside the old-fashioned notion that men go out to work and women do the housework."

"But this is also coming at a time when more and more women are working and having a career."

"So their burden only increases in this environment."

"This results in fewer women being motivated to get married and have children."

While the gender gap won't be easy to fix, there are positive developments on the wage front.

Some big companies continue to pay their workers more

and there is hope this will spread to the wider economy... potentially paving the way for a more baby-friendly future.

This ski resort in Japan's Nagano Prefecture is known for its annual dumpings of powder snow.

In recent years, it has been struggling with a decline in the number of customers.

The number of visitors is about a quarter of the peak.

So this winter, the resort is offering guests something new...

"Look at this video!"

Something to remember your day on the slopes.

Just hold your smartphone up to the sign...

"Start!"

And with that signal, an AI-generated imaging system identifies the skier and prepares to follow them down the course.

The camera captures high-quality 4K images...as it zooms in on the skier's every turn.

The video can be viewed for free.

"This is actually helpful."

"I thought I was skiing better than this, but seeing it this video... I guess I'm not so good at it."

For a fee, you can download the video... or pay a bit more, and an instructor will watch your run and offer advice on how to improve.

"Your skiing has good rhythm. The caving turns are also good."

On a busy day, this service gets used around 60 times.

"Instead of just offering skiing, we added value to it."

"More and more we have to provide services that fit the needs of customers."

This swimming school in Tokyo is also using AI-generated imaging...

to take video of its young students in action.

It has 11 video cameras installed around the pool.

AI detects a swimmer in a particular lane, and automatically edits a video with the best angles... including from underwater.

Coaches can use the footage to review their students' swim tests.

- "Are you following the technique?"
- "I'm doing it the right way..."

"Yes, you are getting better."

Swimmers outside the lane are blurred out to ensure privacy.

"Children nowadays are used to seeing videos."

"If they see this, and then get advice on how to use their hands to push the water,

I think they will understand it better."

"We turned to AI because we wanted a way to automatically shoot a video with the best camera angles and then edit it."

"The children and their parents like it, and it also helps the coaches."

There's always a learning curve when taking up a sport.

But new technologies may be making it easier to reach the goal of becoming an expert.

A trade school is giving young people a new way to look at caregiving by incorporating beauty services into its curriculum.

And an apartment that is building positive relationships between its younger and older residents.

Today's On-Site Report features business models that are bringing together younger and older generations in mutually beneficial way.

This senior center is located in Tokyo.

Today, students from a caregiving school are offering their services as part of their coursework.

However, the services they came to provide aren't what you would expect from standard caregivers.

They're here to provide makeup and beauty services.

These students are actually learning beauty techniques tailored specifically for elderly individuals who are in need of care.

"Nice, right? You look fantastic!"

These beauty services not only brighten the mood of the elderly clients,

but also help motivate them to participate in rehabilitation activities or to go out more often.

"You're ready for a night on the town!"

"I think you're right!"

The school is located in Harajuku, a trendy section of Tokyo with a youthful vibe.

In addition to basic caregiving skills, the school teaches specialized beauty treatment methods,

such as make-up and nail care techniques designed specifically for elderly clients.

The primary goal of the program is to draw more young people into the caregiving field,

which is currently facing a shortage of workers.

"By offering a course like this, we want to change and brighten the perception that people have of the caregiving field."

"Hopefully this will allow us to capture the attention of those who are considering new career paths."

The trade school has five locations across Japan, and at the start of the last school term had an enrollment of over 800 students.

Many of them view the course as an opportunity to combine their passion for beauty with a much needed role in caregiving.

"I thought becoming a caregiver would be really difficult because it has a reputation for being very hard physical labor."

"But when I found out that there were caregiving jobs that were more beauty-related, I wanted to give it a try."

"Up until recently, I worked as a normal caregiver."

"When I learned about the course, I thought it would be even more rewarding for me

if I could provide something special and meaningful to the elderly people I work with by offering beauty services, too."

Okamura Ayumi is a freelancer who completed the course two years ago.

Previously, she sold cosmetics at a department store, but left her job after having a child.

Her new job not only allows her to make use of her knowledge of beauty and cosmetics,

it affords her the flexibility she needs to spend more time with her family.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Today, Okamura is making a monthly visit to a nursing home to give manicures to some of her elderly clients.

Sakamoto Etsuko, one of her regular customers, had her nails done last month before attending her granddaughter's wedding.

"You did such a lovely job for the wedding!"

"While I was there, so many people came up and complimented me on how beautiful my nails were!"

"Oh, thank you! I'm so happy to hear that!"

"Okay, we're all finished!"

In just 2 hours, Okamura was able to provide manicures to 5 clients.

"This type of job is perfect for working moms."

"And of course, seeing my clients smile and feeling good about themselves is wonderful."

"I feel that I've found my calling and don't think I will be able to quit anytime soon!"

This small apartment complex contains 8 rental units.

One of the tenants living here is Zhang Boyi, a university student from China.

"Since I'm a student and not working right now, keeping my expenses down is important."

"This apartment is really stylish yet the rent is extremely low!"

However, there is a catch - young residents must follow a few unique conditions set by the management.

"Hi Hiruta san!"

Every day, they must greet and check on their elderly neighbors.

This apartment was originally created for elderly residents who had trouble renting a standard house or apartment.

Rather than being a dedicated senior living facility, however, it was designed to bring younger and older people together.

The younger residents enjoy a rental fee approximately 20% lower than the going market rate.

In return, they must regularly check on their elderly neighbors and report any health concerns they might have to the adjacent clinic.

The elderly residents, on the other hand, pay a higher rental fee to compensate for the services offered to them.

Each month, the residents all gather for a tea party organized by the management.

Resident Hiruta Chie, has been living here for just over a year.

Single and retired, she decided to move into the apartments after entering her 70s.

She says she was attracted to the balance the apartment's unique concept offered.

"Everyone has their own lifestyle preferences, especially older folks like me who've been around for quite a while."

"Here, we still have our independence, yet never feel totally isolated."

"It sounds small, but its things like that that really matter."

The apartment is managed by a company that focuses on events and group related services.

"It may seem like the young people are doing all the work,

but beyond the affordable rent, I think there are many other ways they can benefit from our system."

Offering an apartment that can meet the needs of both our younger and older tenants is what allows this to be a successful business model.

Over time, Zhang began visiting with Hiruta, more and more often.

Before retiring, Hiruta traveled the world working as a manager for a modeling agency.

Now, she's more than happy to share her life experience with her much younger neighbor.

At first, Zhang was just checking on Hiruta,

but as their relationship developed, Hiruta also began providing much needed advice to Zhang.

"I often struggle with ideas for leading my research group."

"It's hard to come up with new approaches."

"You just have to keep an open mind and think as much as you can."

"Eventually, an idea will come to you."

"That's what got me through my whole career!"

"So, try not to let it stress you out!"

The generational gap between them has inspired deep conversations and led to mutual growth.

"I like to talk with Hiruta-san when things get hard at school

because sometimes I don't feel comfortable talking about it with friends my age."

"I really appreciate her support!"

"Speaking with all kinds of people is fun and doesn't leave me with time to grow old!"

Sharing much more than a roof, - the tenants here share meaningful moments together.

This innovative approach has helped the apartment to attract attention from both businesses and prospective tenants across Japan.