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April 25, 2024
 

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DECENTRALIZATION

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 Times
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2023
Relocated Cultural Affairs Agency opens in Kyoto
Located near the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the new office will accommodate five out of the agency's nine divisions including those overseeing world heritage sites and national treasures.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 27, 2023
COVID-era relocation trend may be fading despite work flexibility
The balance between those relocating to Tokyo and those leaving it widened again last year, accelerating the capital's population growth.
Japan Times
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 29, 2022
Families moving out of Tokyo to get up to ¥1 million per child
The increased amount will come on top of the maximum u00a53 million in base financial support already given to relocating families.
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 Times
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 Times
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 a burden on business activities, and so mostly counts on employers to self-police their own activities.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 9, 2019
Abe's plan to battle Japan's regional brain drain draws mixed reviews
Like other major cities around the world, Tokyo acts as a magnet for the rest of the country, attracting people whose energy and talents spark new businesses and forms of art and culture, which, in turn, attract even more people.
EDITORIALS
Feb 10, 2017
Reversing population flow to Tokyo
The Abe administration's efforts to reduce the flow of people into the greater Tokyo area from other prefectures are not having much success.
EDITORIALS
Sep 7, 2016
Relocating government functions
The Abe administration must take a stronger lead in pushing forward the decentralization of some national government functions if it is really serious about pursuing the project.
EDITORIALS
Mar 31, 2016
Half-hearted decentralization effort
The poor results of the Abe administration's attempt to move national government functions out of Tokyo cast doubts as to how serious the administration is about pursuing its much-hyped policy of revitalizing regional economies by creating more jobs outside the capital.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 17, 2015
YKK may become first company to get tax breaks for relocating Tokyo HQ
Major fastener-maker YKK Corp. may become the first company to receive tax breaks that the central government plans to offer to Tokyo-based firms that move their headquarters operations outside the capital, according to informed sources.
EDITORIALS
Jan 12, 2015
Local initiatives key in revitalization
This will be an important year for local governments across Japan as the Abe administration pushes the revitalization of the nation's regional economies. Given the dire demographic situation, it's not clear when local government leaders will get another chance to realize this goal.
EDITORIALS
Jan 4, 2015
Revitalizing rural parts of Japan
There seems to be a basic discrepancy between the Abe administration's direction in its employment policy and what its regional revitalization program is aiming for.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Over 40% of Japan's municipalities at risk of vanishing, study finds
Of 1,729 local municipalities nationwide, 744 have been identified as being at risk of disappearing.
Tokyo issues strong warning on yen intervention as currency dips further
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on the sidelines of IMF and G20 meetings in Washington last week.
Princess Aiko makes debut at imperial garden party
Princess Aiko attends an imperial garden party in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan's former PM Aso meets Trump for talks on security and economy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in New York on Tuesday. The Japanese government’s top spokesman on Wednesday played down the meeting as one conducted "in the capacity of one lawmaker" and “without the government’s involvement.”
For amateur sumo, a fresh start offers hope against time-wasting and gamesmanship
Wrestlers prepare for the start of a bout at the 2023 Sumo World Championships in Tokyo. Starting this month, placing one hand on the clay first is no longer allowed.
LDP veteran Nikai's youngest son expected to succeed him in Wakayama
Toshihiro Nikai, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced in March that he would not run in the next Lower House election to take responsibility for the political funds scandal that rocked his party and his own faction.
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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