Japanese cities vie to become second capital
Osaka, a leading contender, has even designated a talking cat mascot for the effort.
Thirteen Japanese cities are competing to become the nation's second capital, following the passage of a law aimed at ensuring governmental continuity in the face of natural disasters. The incentive for the competition includes significant financial benefits, such as subsidies, tax breaks, and potential tourism opportunities. Osaka, a major contender, has even adopted a talking cat mascot named Fukumaru to promote its bid.
However, experts caution that while the prospect of economic growth is appealing, the initiative must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating existing issues like population decline in rural areas.
Brief written by urgent.news from Semafor's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
