Japan’s government, to encourage families to move out from greater Tokyo, is offering 1mn yen ($7,500) per child. This is the government's attempt to reverse the population decline in the regions.
The incentive is a dramatic increase from the previous relocation fee of 300,000 yen. The new incentive will be introduced April onwards. As per Japanese media, this is the government's attempt to increase the population in the villages of Japan.
Tokyo's population, fell for the first time last year, partially due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, policymakers feel that the density of the population should be further reduced and people should be encouraged to move to lesser fashionable parts of the country that have been hit by ageing, shrinking populations and the migration of younger people to Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities, the Guardian reports.
There's already a plan in place where people are being offered 300,000 yen per child and 3 million yen as a one-off support payment --they may claim more money if they start a business of their own. The plan was introduced in 2021 too, but then only 2,400 people opted for it. The compensation will be offered to families living in the 23 'core' wards of Tokyo and the neighbouring commuter-belt prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.
According to the Kyodo news agency, to receive the payment, families must move outside the greater Tokyo area. They could also avail the cash if they relocate to mountainous areas within the city’s boundaries. The families must live in the new homes for at least five years. If they return before five years, they will have to return the cash.