video transcript

A bugle sounds the beat at a Japanese naval base, this morning parade's changed little in more than half a century. That is, until now. These 40 toddlers are at one of four new military nurseries open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MARINE SELF DEFENCE FORCE (MSDF) WELFARE OFFICER, HAJIME SHINZAWA, SAYING: "Up till now women would generally have children and then take time off to raise them. They had their duties but the fact was they'd need someone to look after their children. So lots of women left the service because of that. But now with this nursery they can keep on with their work." For Petty Officer Noriko Misuda the day starts at the crack of dawn. And for her one-year-old son Kohei the nursery becomes his home for breakfast. But this meal could well turn into lunch or supper too. Misuda's job may be office admin, but it follows military timings -- often deep into the night. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 37-YEAR-OLD JAPANESE MARINE SELF DEFENCE FORCE (MSDF) PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS NORIKO MISUDA, SAYING: "I didn't want to give up work when I had children. It was my dream to get into the Self Defence Force. So I started using the nursery so I could keep on working and bring up a family at the same time...My husband's in the force too, so our shifts sometimes clash, and sometimes I have to go on duty when he gets sent out to sea. But you know the nursery runs on weekends and through the night - so it really helps us out when we have to go to work at times most people would have off." On his naval support vessel Mr Misuda, too, is thankful for 24-7 childcare. Some missions take him away to sea for six months at a time, leaving his wife and son alone back on shore. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 38-YEAR-OLD JAPANESE MARINE SELF DEFENCE FORCE (MSDF) PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS ISAMU MISUDA, SAYING: "When we first put our child into the nursery he started sobbing really hard - when I saw that, it tugged my heart strings. But you know, without that it's impossible for us to do our duty properly. And half-hearted work doesn't make for a good job." But by 2030, one third of Japan will be in retirement - rarely doing any job at all. And getting mothers back into work quickly will, by then, be matter of economic urgency. But so far across Japan, more than twenty thousand toddlers are unable to find a place in childcare. While one-year-old Kohei waits at the nursery gate, many mothers are still waiting to get back to work. Ruairidh Villar, Reuters.