I think the crushing time commitment of Japanese professionals to their jobs is part of the problem. From my limited western understanding, after work, and socializing with your colleagues from work, there's very little time for Japanese couples to start a family.

Initiatives like this haven’t seemed to work in Sweden, among other countries. I don’t know if any countries have successfully reversed a plummeting birth rate, but it doesn’t seem to be for lack of trying.

Maybe the reality is that, given the choice, most women don’t want to have more than one or two kids under any circumstances?

In Japan? If you did that, the economy would immediately fall over. I don't think you're very well informed on this subject matter.