Lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law designed to promote communities on remote islands with the aim of protecting the nation's territorial integrity amid China's increasing maritime assertiveness and other territorial disputes with neighboring countries.
The bill, passed by the Diet's House of Councilors, provides financial support for such remote islands to try to keep them inhabited as a way of helping to secure the nation's territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
Under the new law, the central and local governments will partially subsidize transportation costs for residents on designated islands and provide financial assistance to fishermen.
The law covers 71 islands in eight prefectures where improvements to living standards are seen as necessary to keep them inhabited.
Among the islands are Rebun, Rishiri and Okushiri off Hokkaido, which are near Russia, Sado Island in the Sea of Japan, and Tsushima, Iki and Goto islands off Kyushu, near South Korea.
The law has a 10-year term limit starting from April next year.