Government Scraps Cash Incentive Program for Single Women Relocating to Rural Areas
The Japanese government has abandoned a controversial program that aimed to incentivize single women to relocate to rural areas upon marriage. The program, which offered up to 600,000 yen ($4,100) to newlywed women who moved from Tokyo to the countryside, faced widespread criticism for its perceived reinforcement of traditional gender roles and its failure to address the underlying issues driving women's exodus from rural areas.
The program was initially included in the Cabinet Office's budget request for fiscal 2025. It aimed to address the challenge of attracting women from Tokyo to matchmaking events held in rural areas, a crucial step in revitalizing these regions. The program envisioned covering transportation costs for single women traveling from Tokyo to these events and offering an additional subsidy upon marriage. Notably, the program was limited to women and did not require them to work or start businesses after relocating.
However, the program sparked immediate backlash upon its announcement. Critics argued that it failed to address the root causes of women's departure from rural areas, namely the gender wage gap and deeply ingrained societal expectations that confine women to traditional domestic roles. They argued that offering financial incentives without tackling these fundamental issues would only perpetuate the problem.
In response to the criticism, Hanako Jimi, state minister for regional revitalization, announced the program's cancellation on August 30th. She acknowledged the need to carefully consider the concerns of those directly affected by the issue and promised to revisit the program with a more comprehensive approach.
Despite the program's cancellation, the Cabinet Office's budget request for the next fiscal year includes other initiatives aimed at encouraging marriage among younger generations. These initiatives include promoting and educating the public about the safe use of private matchmaking apps, which have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and raising awareness of marriage support centers operated by local governments.