Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Tag - decentralization

 
 

DECENTRALIZATION

Andy Burnham, leader of the Labour Party, at a speech to party members in central London on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 18, 2026
Andy Burnham bets political future on remaking Britain¡¯s centralized state
Britain¡¯s next prime minister is staking his premiership on a goal that has eluded most British leaders.
All Nippon Airways' new Hokkaido facility has about 60 employees from various divisions to maintain operations during the first week following a possible major disaster or terrorist attack.
BUSINESS
Jul 8, 2026
ANA opens Hokkaido facility to ensure continuity in event of disaster
The major airline moved part of its operations from Tokyo¡¯s Haneda Airport to the new facility, which began full-scale operations earlier this month.
Andy Burnham, the British member of Parliament for Makerfield, delivers a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, Britain, on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 30, 2026
Burnham vows to grow economy by taking powers out of London
The prime minister hopeful says Britain is ¡°stuck in a rut¡± with output held back by a ¡°stark imbalance in resources between national government and local government.¡±
Newly elected Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham arrives at Derby Gate by the Houses of Parliament, following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement of the timeline for his resignation, in London on June 22.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 29, 2026
Burnham to pledge sweeping devolution in bid to become U.K. PM
The former Greater Manchester mayor will set out on Monday how he¡¯d ¡°lift Britain back up¡± by handing more decision making powers to local authorities.
By the end of March 2027, Japan aims to have around 10,000 people working to revitalize nonurban areas after relocating from urban areas under a government-subsidized program.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2026
Record 8,196 in Japan serve as ¡®community reactivators¡¯
The government aims to increase the number of community reactivators to 10,000 by the end of March 2027.
Japan Innovation Party policy chief Alex Saito (left) and Ichiro Miyashita, a Lower House member of the Liberal Democratic Party, speak to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 1, 2026
LDP and JIP agree to drop special ward requirement for secondary capital
The move opens up the role to prefectures other than just Osaka.
As concentration of the population in the Tokyo area is ongoing, addressing the situation remains a challenge for Japan.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 3, 2026
Net population inflow into Tokyo area slowed in 2025, but concentration persists
As concentration of the population in the Tokyo area is ongoing, addressing the situation remains a challenge for the country.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (left) in Tokyo in December
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 13, 2026
Osaka governor mulls stepping down to pave way for secondary capital designation
Both the governor and mayor of Osaka are considering resigning from their posts to pave the way for the city to become a backup capital.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during an interview on Sept. 20 at parliament.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2025
LDP presidential candidate Hayashi sees need for backup of Tokyo
The idea has been championed by opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai, which is seeking to turn Osaka into a backup capital.
The government will support university student internships at local companies starting in fiscal 2026, aiming to encourage urban-to-rural migration and regional settlement.
JAPAN
Aug 29, 2025
Japan to support internship programs at local companies
The aim is?to strengthen the flow of people from urban to rural areas by encouraging university students in big cities to return to their hometowns after graduation.
A building in Kawasaki housing Toshiba's new headquarters
BUSINESS
Aug 20, 2025
Japanese manufacturers moving headquarters out of central Tokyo
Toshiba, Fujitsu and other major manufacturers are moving elsewhere in response to the spread of remote work.
The area around Shibuya Station in Tokyo. After the end of World War II, population concentration in the capital accelerated while other parts of Japan continue to see population declines.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 18, 2025
80 years on: Tokyo prospers while local revitalization still insufficient
Experts stress the importance of setting up a system in which industrial resources are circulated locally in order to create a sustainable society.
The government is looking to ease the overconcentration of businesses in Tokyo to tackle labor shortages in the countryside, ensure nationwide economic growth and realize a sustainable society.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2025
Government aims to create 10,000 jobs via business relocations from Tokyo
The move is aimed at easing overconcentration of companies in the capital and bridge an urban-rural divide in economic growth.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba talks during a meeting with business leaders about his Regional Revitalization 2.0 initiative.
JAPAN
May 22, 2025
Government to set numerical goals for regional revitalization
The targets will be set for 10 items, including the rate of young people relocating to regional areas.
Tokyo officials are pushing back against arguments that blame the dwindling national population partly on the concentration of people and businesses in the capital.
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 15, 2025
Regional revitalization faces Tokyo-countryside divide
Some blame Âé¶¹´«Ã½ dwindling national population partly on the concentration of people and businesses in the capital.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right) speaks to officials of Miyada in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday during his visit to the village.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 17, 2025
Japan to extend financial aid to more people moving out of Tokyo
The government plans to expand eligibility to include people taking up jobs in agriculture, medicine and welfare, as well as those becoming self-employed.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers his policy speech at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 27, 2025
Âé¶¹´«Ã½ young government officials to help municipalities as side gig
The measure, part of regional revitalization efforts by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, aims to help municipalities struggling with a lack of personnel.
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
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.

Longform

Disaster relief workers Taichi Kato (left) and Seiji Yoshimura enter the collapsed living quarters at Kyuganji temple in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture.
What Kumamoto revealed about Âé¶¹´«Ã½ earthquake readiness

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN