Japan’s law to establish alternate capital as backup to Tokyo takes effect

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - A new Japanese law to establish an alternate capital as a backup to Tokyo took effect on Friday.

The law allows “eligible prefectures to apply for designation,” Kyodo News reported.

It allows for the continuity of national and social functions in case of a large-scale disaster, as well as the decentralization of economic activities away from the capital region of the world’s fourth-largest economy.

The law came to fruition as the ruling coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, seeks to turn Osaka, its core base in western Japan, into a metropolis like Tokyo.

“The government is expected to announce in November its basic approach to second capital status and a timetable for its designation,” the report said.

Authorities will grant tax incentives to boost investment in areas designated as secondary capitals under the new law. It also allows the prime minister to designate a backup capital based on applications from prefectures.

“It does not limit the number of second capitals to one, leaving open the possibility that multiple prefectures could be designated,” the report added.

At least four prefectures — Hokkaido in the north, Aichi in central Japan, Osaka and Fukuoka in the southwest — are expected to apply for alternate capital status.

The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved an ordinance last Tuesday setting requirements for gaining the status, including that a prefecture account for at least 2.1% of Japan's gross domestic product and contain a city with at least 1.2% of the country's population.

Riyaz Khaliq Khaliq