Most of Japan's 4 million public servants, from the nation's top leaders to the rank-and-file employees of the central and local governments, received their summer bonuses Friday.
The average payment to central government employees in nonmanagerial administrative jobs is about 622,000 yen for a 34.6-year-old employee, up 5,000 yen, or 0.8 percent, from last year.
The average local government employee bonus is about 597,000 yen for a 36.2-year-old employee, up 5,000 yen or 0.8 percent.
Their bonus payment comes to the equivalent of 2.11 months of salary for both central and local government employees, up 0.01 month from last year, marking the first increase in three years.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Supreme Court Chief Justice Akira Machida received the largest bonuses, each getting some 5.66 million yen, while Cabinet members received some 4.13 million yen each, almost unchanged from last year, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councilors President Chikage Ogi each got 5.06 million yen, and Diet members got 3.01 million yen.
Bonuses for parliamentary leaders and lawmakers are down slightly from last year.
Vice ministers received 3.33 million yen, while bureau head-class officials received 2.53 million yen.