The rural village of Nagoro, March 2019 – Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
This sum comes on top of the 3 million yen families can already claim if they want to leave urban life and settle in more remote areas of the country.
A great incentive to leave the city. As reported in an article by the Japanese news agency Kyodo, starting in April, the Japanese government is offering up to 1 million yen per child, or around 7,300 euros, for all families moving out of the greater Tokyo area.
The aim of this proposal: to reduce the concentration of population in the region of the capital, but also to resettle deserted rural areas of the country.
1,300 communities affected
This new sum is a testament to Japan’s determination to make a difference and comes on top of the 3 million yen in financial support already given to families who are moving. This incentive particularly affects the residents of the 23 districts of Tokyo that make up the central metropolitan area, but also some neighboring prefectures such as Saitama, Chiba or Kanagawa.
Opposite, 1,300 municipalities are participating in this program and are waiting for their new residents and their children. Located outside of Japan’s metropolitan areas, they largely suffer from the exodus of young people to the big cities. In addition, there is an aging population combined with a low birth rate for Japan as a whole.
As the Guardian points out, the payment of this sum is logically subject to a number of conditions. Families must therefore live in their new accommodation for at least five years and otherwise pay back the allocated sum. In addition, it is required that at least one of the family members works in a company in the area or opens a new business locally.
Authorities hope that by 2027, 10,000 people will have moved to these rural townships from Tokyo.
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Original article published on BFMTV.com
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