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September 15, 2025
 

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DECENTRALIZATION

The government will support university student internships at local companies starting in fiscal 2026, aiming to encourage urban-to-rural migration and regional settlement.
JAPAN
Aug 29, 2025
Japan to support internship programs at local companies
The aim is to strengthen the flow of people from urban to rural areas by encouraging university students in big cities to return to their hometowns after graduation.
A building in Kawasaki housing Toshiba's new headquarters
BUSINESS
Aug 20, 2025
Japanese manufacturers moving headquarters out of central Tokyo
Toshiba, Fujitsu and other major manufacturers are moving elsewhere in response to the spread of remote work.
The area around Shibuya Station in Tokyo. After the end of World War II, population concentration in the capital accelerated while other parts of Japan continue to see population declines.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 18, 2025
80 years on: Tokyo prospers while local revitalization still insufficient
Experts stress the importance of setting up a system in which industrial resources are circulated locally in order to create a sustainable society.
The government is looking to ease the overconcentration of businesses in Tokyo to tackle labor shortages in the countryside, ensure nationwide economic growth and realize a sustainable society.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2025
Government aims to create 10,000 jobs via business relocations from Tokyo
The move is aimed at easing overconcentration of companies in the capital and bridge an urban-rural divide in economic growth.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba talks during a meeting with business leaders about his Regional Revitalization 2.0 initiative.
JAPAN
May 22, 2025
Government to set numerical goals for regional revitalization
The targets will be set for 10 items, including the rate of young people relocating to regional areas.
Tokyo officials are pushing back against arguments that blame the dwindling national population partly on the concentration of people and businesses in the capital.
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 15, 2025
Regional revitalization faces Tokyo-countryside divide
Some blame Japan's dwindling national population partly on the concentration of people and businesses in the capital.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right) speaks to officials of Miyada in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday during his visit to the village.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 17, 2025
Japan to extend financial aid to more people moving out of Tokyo
The government plans to expand eligibility to include people taking up jobs in agriculture, medicine and welfare, as well as those becoming self-employed.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers his policy speech at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 27, 2025
Japan's young government officials to help municipalities as side gig
The measure, part of regional revitalization efforts by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, aims to help municipalities struggling with a lack of personnel.
The Cultural Affairs Agency in the city of Kyoto
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2024
One year on, benefits of culture agency's move to Kyoto unclear
The relocation of the Cultural Affairs Agency was decided in 2016
In its quake damage estimates updated last year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government expects that 4.53 million people will be unable to return home in the aftermath of a massive quake hitting the capital.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2023
Over-concentration in Tokyo raising risks from possible quake
The government estimate that up to 23,000 people would be killed if a massive quake hits the capital.
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2023
Kyoto calling: Ancient capital prepares to be center of Japanese culture again
The relocation of the Cultural Affairs Agency has raised strong hopes in Kyoto that the move will give the city a higher profile and status.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2022
Japan aims to balance population flows to and from Tokyo by fiscal 2027
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people moving into the Tokyo metropolitan area area still exceeds that of people moving out.
JAPAN
Nov 14, 2022
With new group, prefectural governors take aim at Tokyo's dominance
Nearly half of Japan's 47 prefectural governors formed the group amid frustration with the government's slow progress in reducing the concentration of people and firms in the capital.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 23, 2022
Rural Philippines, long neglected, newly appealing in COVID-19 times
The economic disparity between the nation's rural and urban areas has been a long-standing problem, but the lessons of the pandemic may finally lead to change.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 20, 2021
America’s superstar cities aren’t what they used to be
The 10 biggest U.S. cities, while large and growing, now account for less than 7.9% of the country's population.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 7, 2020
Efforts to decentralize Japan have a long history
Moves to address the nation's obsession with Tokyo have long seemed futile, but recently the capital's population shrunk for the first time since 1956.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 25, 2020
A decentralization opportunity goes begging amid COVID-19 outbreak
In Japan, the main obstacle to achieving the kind of widespread self-isolation necessary for limiting the spread of the coronavirus is thought to be the country's work culture. The government, which has always favored policies that benefit the private sector, is averse to countermeasures that would place...
Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens?
Convenience stores are a fixture of Japanese life and 7-Eleven, a chain that began in the U.S. in 1927, opened its first store in Japan in 1974 — and then became wholly Japanese-owned in 2005 through parent company Seven & I Holdings.
Japan's cutting-edge railgun successfully strikes target vessel
The Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) conducted a ship-board railgun shooting test from June to early July this year with the support of the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
‘Fairytale’ Shirakawago ranked one of the world’s most beautiful villages
Forbes and Unforgettable Travel Company have ranked Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture as Asia's most beautiful village.
People rush to make furusato nozei donations ahead of tighter rules
A booth from the town of Betsukai in Hokkaido at an Amazon Japan furusato nо̄zei promotion event, on Sept. 5 in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture
Strikes on Qatar and Poland shake U.S. sway among friend and foe
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible in Washington on Sept. 8. Israeli strikes in Qatar and Russian drone incursions into Poland have challenged the U.S. leaders claims of global respect.
Japan's major art events converge this fall
Shinji Ohmaki’s “Tokinokage” exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021 shows the use of fabric as art.
An aesthetic escape to Hakone’s art-drenched hills
Between traditional examples of fine art and sleek, modern exhibitions that blend with nature, Hakone offers a unique escape from Tokyo's urban sprawl.
Niinami’s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
A Brahmos missile system is displayed during a rehearsal for a military parade in New Delhi in January. The Philippines will soon receive its second batch of the supersonic cruise missiles from India.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin

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