Japan passes Sub-Capital Law to decentralize functions from Tokyo

Japan has passed the Sub-Capital Law, aimed at decentralizing national functions from Tokyo to other regions to ensure continuity during major disasters. The legislation includes provisions for infrastructure development, regulatory easing, and tax incentives to encourage the movement of government agencies, businesses, and residents to designated areas.

While real estate investors anticipate rising land prices in potential sub-capital cities like Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, some experts remain skeptical. Professor Emeritus Hiroo Ichikawa suggests that capital functions are not tied to a specific location and that the physical movement of institutions may not occur as expected.

In the political sphere, Nippon Ishin no Kai has promoted the law's passage through an AI-generated animated music video. However, the video has faced significant criticism online for numerous technical and cultural errors, including characters depicted with six fingers and improper etiquette in traditional settings.