Minimum hourly wages in some prefectures are set to be raised by significantly more than suggested by an advisory panel to the Japanese government.
Amid soaring prices, several prefectures decided on a larger minimum wage increase than the recommended margin of ¥39 to ¥41.
The new minimum wages for fiscal 2023, which began in April, will take effect in stages beginning Oct. 1.
Shimane Prefecture will raise its minimum wage by ¥47 to ¥904. The decision to increase the minimum wage by ¥7 more than the recommended amount reflects tough living conditions for workers due to higher prices and a focus on narrowing disparities with prefectures touting high wages.
Among prefectures with the lowest current minimum wage of ¥853, Okinawa will implement a rise of ¥43 to ¥896, Akita and Miyazaki will see an increase of ¥44 to ¥897, while Aomori and Nagasaki will boost the level by ¥45 to ¥898.
Tokyo will continue to have the highest minimum wage in the country, as it plans a hike of ¥41 to ¥1,113. Kanagawa will follow with a new minimum wage of ¥1,112, up ¥41.
Prefectural councils decide minimum wages based on recommendations by the Central Minimum Wages Council, which advises the labor minister.
The central council divided the country's 47 prefectures into three ranks based on their economic situations and other factors. It recommended a minimum wage hike of ¥41 for the top tier, including Tokyo and Kanagawa, ¥40 for the middle tier, including Kyoto and Hyogo, and ¥39 for the bottom tier, including Iwate and Okinawa.
A subcommittee of the central council last month agreed to raise the nationwide weighted average of minimum wages by ¥41 to a record high of ¥1,002 for fiscal 2023.