Japanese government offers 600,000 yen for women to marry rural men

According to Asahi News, the Japanese government is offering women living in Tokyo 600,000 yen (US$4,200) as an incentive to marry men in rural areas. This initiative is a response to the imbalance in regional development, which the government says is negatively affecting the country’s social progress.

Migration and urbanization trends

According to Japan’s 2023 Population Migration Report, around 68,000 more people moved into Tokyo than out of it, with more than half of them being women. The migration of women from rural areas to cities in search of better education and job opportunities has contributed to the shrinking workforce in Japan’s rural regions. Consequently, many homes in these areas remain vacant, and some schools and hospitals have had to close due to the population decline.

Incentive plan to balance population distribution

In an attempt to reverse these trends, the government launched a program offering up to 600,000 yen to single women who were willing to leave Tokyo and marry men in rural areas. The initiative also covered the travel costs of women interested in finding a match in rural regions. Eligible women included those living or working in the 23 municipalities of Tokyo.

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Public backlash and suspension of the plan

Despite the government’s intentions, the proposal has not been well received by the public, leading to its suspension. Many expressed frustration over the plan, with some criticizing the government for trying to force women to return to rural areas they had left in search of better lives.

“This is disheartening. These girls left backward rural areas and came to Tokyo desperate to live a better life. Now the government wants them to return,” a social media user commented.

Japan’s population crisis and low birth rate

Japan is grappling with a population crisis, with the birth rate at an all-time low. In June, the country’s health ministry described the situation as “critical” after the birth rate hit record lows for the eighth consecutive year. In 2022, fewer than 500,000 couples got married, marking the lowest number in 90 years.

Japanese scholar Kenichi Ohmae told SCMP that many people are increasingly hesitant to take risks or incur debts, leading to a decrease in marriages, a diminished desire for children, and even less engagement in sexual relationships.