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Families moving out of Tokyo to get up to ¥1 mil per child

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Where are the jobs in the boondocks?

And that convenience store around the corner etc?

This is the cart before the horse…

13 ( +25 / -12 )

I agree with Kurisupisu, while it is a good thing to want people moving back to regional areas etc. if there are no jobs, no daycares, then what is going to attract them? One million yen doesn't go very far these days. IT would be much better to start to farm out gov't agencies which would in turn bring good high paying jobs to these areas which would then pull people from Tokyo.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

It bothers me that the people who thought this (environmentally disastrous) plan up are probably walking around with those “SDG” pins in their lapels.

6 ( +18 / -12 )

Why should I pay for this? Don’t live in Tokyo. Don’t like kids.

-8 ( +16 / -24 )

Whoever came up with this proposal has never lived in the countryside of Japan…

8 ( +21 / -13 )

Stop wasting money, there are huge areas of Japan that are going to turn into geriatric wastelands. The population decline is now to far gone to be stopped by offering the odd million yen to the three families who already have family and a job in the areas offered to move.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

Buffoons.

Move the jobs, day cares and businesses out of Tokyo, then the population will follow.

A one time weak payment will not get it done.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

This structural problem requires a structural solution, like compelling employers to accept and embrace work from home.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

Go and Stay where the Work is... that's common sense, isn't it ?

10 ( +10 / -0 )

What about.... the young couples who mindfully chose to live in smaller communities? They are already there, inspiring and motivating others to stay, or to try it anew. They have struggles specific to smaller town life. Might they not have some financial benefit/tax cut/bonus?

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Lead by example. Move government offices to the countryside and the employees will move too. Discourage the construction of new office buildings on the Tokyo area.

Since 2019 2391 people moved out of the Tokyo area. How many, if any, of these moved out because of the ¥300,000? How many moved out because they realised as a result covid and working from home using Zoom, that the daily commute to an office in central Tokyo was a waste of time, no longer bearable, simply not worthwhile?

13 ( +13 / -0 )

The 1 million will be gone in no time. Then what do you do?

I don't see anything being created here --just moving the problem around.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

What about.... the young couples who mindfully chose to live in smaller communities? They are already there, inspiring and motivating others to stay, or to try it anew. They have struggles specific to smaller town life. Might they not have some financial benefit/tax cut/bonus?

Yeah and what about those of us who live in the other prefectures of Japan? Like, heck, give us incentives to not move to Tokyo!

While I dont like the idea of using national tax money to fund this, the government should tax the first step and move itself outside of Tokyo, as had been discussed in the past. If they move, others will follow!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The government is so completely out of touch with people

12 ( +16 / -4 )

How does this work? One off payments dont fix anything. I guess if you already work from home. . . ?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

 the government should tax the first step and move itself outside of Tokyo,

Sorry, my bad, "the government should TAKE the first step....

7 ( +7 / -0 )

This mentality of throwing $$ at every problem hoping it will go away trains society that $$ is every thing, and sadly this is one of the many reasons why people think that money money money is everything here.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

the government should tax the first step and move itself outside of Tokyo,

Sorry, my bad, "the government should TAKE the first step....

You were on target the first time. The government will never lead, they just tax and spend.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

including Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures

Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma should be on the list if they are serious about this. Kanto sprawl extends beyond Saitama these days.

Stop wasting money, there are huge areas of Japan that are going to turn into geriatric wastelands.

Some of these are in central Tokyo. Incentive the old farts to downsize while you're at it.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Since 2019 2391 people moved out of the Tokyo area. How many, if any, of these moved out because of the ¥300,000? How many moved out because they realised as a result covid and working from home using Zoom, that the daily commute to an office in central Tokyo was a waste of time, no longer bearable, simply not worthwhile?

I'm a freelancer who moved from the city to the countryside 20 years ago. If you can take your work with you, its a great thing to do for your lifestyle.

The government here is paying money to try to move the people, but what it should be doing is moving the work, so that people aren't able to work remotely can choose to live in a more rural location.

If an eligible couple with two children under 18 move and start a business in their new area of residence, they would receive up to 5 million yen in financial support

This gives me visions of yet more meh cafes or gelato shops found all over inaka. There good ones out there, but you've got to find them. I know couples like to go to places like that on dates, but they get well tiresome when you're playing 2500 yen for five meh icecreams for your family.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Wonder if foreigners living in Japan with a PR would also be eligible.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Schools, infrastructure and jobs. Those are needed first. The average salary in Japan is about 5M and that figure is inflated by Tokyo salaries.

If you move out of Tokyo, your salary will most likely go down.

Education is best in Tokyo so the kids moving out of Tokyo will have less education and future opportunities

why would one move out of Tokyo for those prospects?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Lead by example. Move government offices to the countryside and the employees will move too.

Exactly. It is time to move the capital to Aizu.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

That money would be all used us just to move and then move in.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

So is the goal to leave Tokyo populated only by single people and the elderly.

Or more likely the elderly!

Many of those entering the Metro area are doing so because support especially for the elderly and school aged children.

Few pediatric doctors in the countryside with schools closing because they have too few students.

In Ibaraki my friend's children primary school only has 3 classes and next year they will need to travel to the town for school.

And no not enough people with children will leave Tokyo to change that.

Even in Tokyo when I arrived we had 3 pediatric doctors in the area, 5 primary schools.

By the time my children started school we had 3 primary school left now it is 2 and a long walk from many children only one pediatric doctor in left near the station the rest retired and no one is replacing them.

However we have far more geriatric doctors and services.

This is dead centre 23 wards Tokyo.

It is worse in outlying areas.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Not to be off topic, but is that Moon in an eclipse (like last month) or is pollution giving it that 'orangey' color?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The government says it and believes their wish will come true, because they said it and everyone is obedient. In their head, but reality not the government’s strongest point. Less then 30% of the voting public bother to vote and less than that we’re confident enough in the LDP for their future. The truth is most people want the government to leave them alone. It’s another plan that like most will fail. But taxing will increase.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Look at that!

Yet another problem that can be apparently be solved by spending money the government doesn’t have.

Indeed, is there any problem that cannot be solved by government spending money that it doesn’t have?

Even the problem of government spending money it doesn’t have, can surely be solved that way, too, surely?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

As the posters above mentioned, move the work and opportunities outside of Tokyo. That's the answer. People follow the jobs (= money).

Just look where hundreds of schools, universities, research centers, and HQs of every company in Japan is located.

Give big tax breaks to those that establish businesses, universities and R&D centers outside of Kanto. There's really no excuse not to since IT allows us to easily do so now.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Won't even cover moving costs.

Meanwhile, Japan is still trying to make Haneda the hub of air travel in Asia, and promoting business and business investment in Tokyo. See the rub?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

2,381 people moved out of the metropolitan area using the financial support during fiscal 2021.

And ten times that number likely moved in! Instead of poorly thought out and costly financial incentives to encourage people to leave, try thinking outside the box for a change. Impose financial disincentives on those moving in. Charging people extra for the dubious privilege of residing there is a handy expedient for raising the very money they’ll be spending on incentivizing people to leave.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Also really not sure what having a child has to do with it. Anyone at all who moves out of Tokyo helps a lot.

decrease child care needs in 23 wards?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Just look where hundreds of schools, universities, research centers, and HQs of every company in Japan is located.

Interesting point.

In area I previously lived for over 27 years there was a single university.

But with incentives from the ward there is now 4 universities.

All new campuses, a boom in single room apartments.

No in the area I presently live again one university ( next ward one station difference).

Now they are building a second university campus and a load off new condos many with single person apartments and others reserved for retirees with medical facilities in the building.

All this like my previous ward being backed by the ward office with tax breaks city land provided or sold at a discount.

So Tokyo prefecture and the wards seem to be in opposition.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Since I'm a single man already living in Saitama, I wonder if I can still get the money if I start a family with a woman that lives in Tokyo (for 5 years), but relocates and comes to live with me to raise the kid.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What a waste is my final answer.

Too many conditions to follow required and money can be taken back !

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There’s no jobs or opportunities outside of Tokyo. Outside of Tokyo without a strong family background to land you a position in the family business, career is dead.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Mow many dollars are there is 1 million Yen?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It would cost ¥1 million just for moving fees.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

wallaceToday  10:45 pm JST

It would cost ¥1 million just for moving fees.

No it would not,

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

No it would not,

Yes, it would.

There are many costs involved in moving depending on whether to buy a new house or a rental. Family of four. Distance of move. Change of schools for children could require new uniforms. Insurance. Deposits. Rent up front. Lawyer fees. Housing company fees.

I have moved several times here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

wallaceDec. 30  11:49 pm JST

Yes, it would.

There are many costs involved in moving depending on whether to buy a new house or a rental. Family of four. Distance of move. Change of schools for children could require new uniforms. Insurance. Deposits. Rent up front. Lawyer fees. Housing company fees.

I have moved several times here.

If you moved several times and paid lawyers fees each time, then sounds like you have a personal problem.

And a family of four would get up to 2 million yen assuming there are 2 children.

Insurance---for what? And deposits, rent upfront, and housing company fees all are not necessary if the family uses 1 million to put down on a new house, which will be cheaper monthly than the monthly rent where they lived before, so they save even more. And they would get their deposits back.

Sure, if someone like you, a foreigner who can't negotiate, moves often, gets sucked into paying high moving costs, and lawyers' fees for god knows what--yeah, I can easily see you getting taken advantage of.

A normal Japanese family of four though would make bank on this latest offer.

Feel sorry for you bub!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Buying and selling and buying properties need lawyers or housing brokers and housing companies. Might also need a short-term rental while one home is sold and another is bought. Could involve a surveyor's report. Obtaining a new mortgage.

Insurance for rentals or insurance for new properties while still paying insurance on the unsold property.

Moving into a new rental involves deposits and housing company fees.

Most people have to use a housing company whether for new buys, rentals, or a new build. The family might decide to upgrade the size of the property rental or buy.

Transport fees in excess of ¥250,000 if moving from prefecture to prefecture. Our last move needed two 20-ton trucks.

Time off from work for packing and moving. Might involve a change of jobs.

A family of four moving out of Tokyo won't have any change from Y1 million.

My family is Japanese.

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/the-real-cost-of-buying-and-selling-a-home-in-japan/

BTW we have been very successful with all of our moves.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

wallaceToday  12:42 am JST

Buying and selling and buying properties need lawyers or housing brokers and housing companies.

A lawyer is not a requirement to buy a house in Japan.

And moving with 2 children to a place less expensive than somewhere in Tokyo and receiving 2 million yen is a great deal.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I thought people move to where the jobs are. Why encourage people to move to outer areas which may be in economic decline and have bleak employment prospects.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tell people to get out of the capital with your children and reward them with 1 million yen.

Is that too harsh and cold as a wealthy country like Japan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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