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Peter Matanle, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies, University of Sheffield

Japan is paying families 1 million yen to move to the countryside – but it won't make Tokyo any smaller

Denys Nevozhai | Unsplash

The Japanese government has announced a fresh round of incentives for people to move out of the Tokyo region. From April 2023, families seeking a new life in greener pastures will receive JPY1 million (£6,380), per child. This represents an increase of JPY700,000 on previous such payments.

Once the whole benefits package is included, the maximum amount a family will be able to receive is JPY5 million. 5 million yen might sound like a lot of money. However this translates to £31,900, which will be quickly used up in relocating to a new home, job and community, and reduced incomes.

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