Japan abandons plan to encourage women to settle in rural areas

The government hastily shelved a scheme that was intended to give single women a financial incentive to move to rural areas when they get married, following a wave of criticism.

Hanako Jimi, Minister of State for Regional Revitalization, announced on August 30 that the plan offer newlyweds relocating from Tokyo’s 23 wards up to 600,000 yen ($4,100) the village will be effectively destroyed.

“Is the government trying to allocate money to activate women?” was one of the feelings expressed.

The program was included in the budget request of the Cabinet of Ministers for fiscal year 2025.

One of her goals was to help local governments revitalize regional areas through matchmaking events. An ongoing challenge is finding ways to encourage Tokyo women to participate in these events.

The program was to cover transportation costs for single women traveling from Tokyo to matchmaking events in the countryside, with additional funding to be provided if the women decided to marry.

This law applied only to women and did not require them to take up employment or start their own business if they moved.

The program was met with criticism after its announcement.

The main factors behind the outflow of women from rural areas were the gender pay gap and gender stereotypes.

But critics say the program failed to address these issues.

“The fundamental problem of women being forced into the role of a spinster wife in a patriarchal culture is not being addressed,” one person complained.

Jimi told a news conference: “I have instructed (officials) to reconsider this issue so that they can respond after carefully listening to the voices of those who are actually suffering.”

The Cabinet of Ministers’ proposal for the next fiscal year also includes other measures aimed at encouraging the younger generation to get married.

As the percentage of couples marrying through matchmaking apps has increased in recent years, the Agency for Children and Families will launch activities to promote and educate the public about the use of matchmaking apps by private operators, as well as provide training on how to use them safely.

The agency will also work to increase awareness of marriage support centers run by local governments.

(The article was written by Sawa Okabayashi and Satoko Onuki.)