Japan’s law took effect Friday, setting backup rules for central government functions in the Tokyo area when a major disaster makes them difficult to maintain, a safeguard for national operations.
The statute provides for regions to take on substitute functions when a major disaster makes it difficult to maintain central functions in the Tokyo area, and only for the time required by that situation. If a major disaster makes it difficult to maintain central functions in the Tokyo area, a designated secondary capital may, as needed and for a set period, perform all or most of those functions.
Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat said the measure was enacted during the 221st Special Diet session. The Cabinet set Oct. 30 as the law’s effective date in a decision on Oct. 23. It adopted a separate Cabinet order on Oct. 27 setting requirements for substitute-function regions and secondary-capital designation.
The law also aims to disperse economic functions across the country and support a multipolar economy.
