Japan’s New Initiative: Cash Incentives for Single Women to Leave Tokyo and Marry in the Countryside

In a bid to address the growing imbalance between single men and women in rural areas, the Japanese government is launching a new initiative to encourage single women to relocate from Tokyo to the countryside. The program aims to tackle the declining female population in rural regions, which has been exacerbated by a trend of young women staying in Tokyo for education and work.

The government’s new initiative will expand an existing subsidy program, offering up to $7,000 to women who move from Tokyo's 23 wards to rural areas. Additionally, the government will cover travel expenses for matchmaking events designed to connect potential partners.

A look at the numbers

According to The Japan Times, this effort is in response to data from the 2020 national census, which revealed that there are about 9.1 million single women aged 15 to 49 living in 46 of Japan's 47 prefectures, excluding Tokyo. This number is roughly 20% less than the 11.1 million single men in the same age group, with the gap reaching up to 30% in some rural areas.

In recent years, more women than men have moved to the Tokyo area and have not returned to their rural hometowns after relocating for education or work. This shift has led to a significant imbalance between single women in the countryside and single men, which isn't a sign of a healthy society.

What are Japanese policymakers doing to solve the problem? 

To combat these demographic challenges, Japan is implementing a variety of measures. The government has already introduced financial incentives for couples to have children, expanded childcare facilities, and launched a state-backed dating app in Tokyo that uses AI to match singles. “If there are many individuals interested in marriage but unable to find a partner, we want to provide support,” a Tokyo official told The Asahi Shimbun. “We hope that this app, with its government association, will provide a sense of security and encourage those who have been hesitant to use traditional apps to take the first step in their search for a partner.”

Japan is grappling with a severe demographic crisis, as evidenced by its record-low birth rate. Last year, there were only 727,277 births, resulting in a fertility rate of 1.20, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has described the declining birth rate as the “gravest crisis our country faces,” emphasizing the urgent need for strategies to boost marriage and family growth.