The Japanese government wants to pay families one million yen (almost $7,300) per child to leave greater Tokyo. This measure will take effect from April this year. It is part of a government plan to reduce population density in the capital.
The government hopes this will help families find their way to the less popular, rural regions.
With nearly 40 million inhabitants, the greater Tokyo conurbation is the second-largest metropolis in the world. Therefore, Japan’s capital is extremely popular with the young Japanese. This is in stark contrast to the more rural regions of the country. They are affected by an ageing population, declining population numbers and departing youth.
The government wants to combat this large exodus. It is therefore offering 1 million yen (more than 7,000 euros) per child for families who wish to leave greater Tokyo to settle in those less famous regions. The measure will take effect from April this year, the start of the new fiscal year.
Greater Tokyo is the largest metropolis in Japan and the second largest in the world by population. The Japanese prefectures (provinces) of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and Tokyo (with the capital) belong to that metropolis. The area is about 16,200 square kilometres. That is about the same size as Wallonia.
The measure is not new in Japan. So far, the government has awarded a reward of 300,000 yen, more than 2,200 euros. Nevertheless, the government believes that more efforts must be made to convince the capital’s inhabitants to move to the rural areas. However, it is the first year that the population of greater Tokyo has not increased. This is partly due to the corona pandemic. About 1,300 municipalities, about 80 percent of the total number, are already participating in the initiative.
A disadvantage: if life in the countryside is disappointing, you cannot immediately return to the capital (at least not without paying back the donated amount). Families must have lived in their new home for at least five years, and a family member must be working there. Those who return to the capital before that period will have to hand in the money again.
English