Despite the central government's initiatives to reinvigorate regional economies and advance decentralization, municipalities across Japan are struggling to stem a population outflow, most prominently to Tokyo.
Last Friday the Cabinet Office decided to disburse around ¥55.64 billion to 609 regional governments in an initial tranche of subsidies to support job creation, infrastructure building and relocation programs.
Government measures have until now fallen short of stemming the tide. Census data released last week by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry showed that in 2016 more Japanese moved to the Tokyo metropolitan area than moved out for the 21st year in a row.