The Japanese government is said to be considering a plan for the fiscal year 2025 to provide financial assistance to single women who wish to leave Tokyo for marriage. The project aims to address the perceived decrease of women in rural regions by noting that many are relocating to the capital for educational or employment opportunities. Reports indicate that the migration has led to a decrease in the number of unmarried women in rural regions as compared to unmarried men, worsening the problem of depopulation.
In an initiative to boost local economies, the government is set to provide newly-married women who relocate from Tokyo's 23 wards to rural regions with a grant of up to 600,000 yen ($4,100).
The updated program, a component of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s initiative called the “Digital Garden City Nation Vision,” aims to enhance the current “relocation support fund” established in fiscal year 2019.
The fund gives single individuals, regardless of gender, up to 600,000 yen through local governments if they relocate to rural areas for work or to start a business after residing in or commuting to Tokyo's 23 wards.
The new system in rural areas would restrict eligibility to only women and eliminate the need for work or business. Initially, it would include the expenses of transportation for women who are participating in matchmaking gatherings held in remote regions. If they do move from Tokyo, extra funds will be given. The upper limit may surpass 600,000 yen. Final decisions will be made by the conclusion of this year.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of women relocating to Tokyo, as stated by the Cabinet Office. With the exception of Tokyo, Japan had approximately 11 million unmarried men and 9.1 million single women between the ages of 15 and 49 in 2020.
The new system aims to rectify the gender disparity. A government official stated that it would motivate additional women to relocate to rural areas.
Similar initiatives have previously been launched by a few localities.
For instance, Bihoro in Hokkaido has a "relocation marriage" program for unmarried women between the ages of 20 and 50 who wish to relocate from cities to rural areas. By connecting them with available farmers in the community, it facilitates their marriage and relocation. But there has already been criticism of the new approach the national government is planning online. Some expressed dissatisfaction with the plan's exclusivity to single women.
