Japan Lawmakers Approve Bill for 2nd Capital as Disaster Risks Threaten Tokyo
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 29
Japan Lawmakers Approve Bill for 2nd Capital as Disaster Risks Threaten Tokyo
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 29
Summary
July legislation created a legal framework for Japan to designate one or more backup regions if a disaster incapacitates Tokyo, formally launching the search for a second capital.
Tokyo’s vulnerability to major earthquakes is the core driver, with the plan aimed at preserving national governance and administrative continuity during a crisis.
The proposal is already contentious because critics say the selection process could favor Osaka, home base of the Japan Innovation Party, the junior partner in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s coalition.
The debate now shifts from passing the bill to deciding which city or region could serve as Japan’s emergency political center if Tokyo goes offline.