Japan's Finance Ministry urges measures to curb people living in disaster-risk areas

TOKYO — Japan's Finance Ministry has proposed a system, potentially backed by legislation, to discourage people from residing in regions identified by hazard maps as prone to flooding and other disasters. This recommendation follows a surge in severe natural disasters, including torrential rain in Chiba Prefecture in August, which have raised alarm across the country.

The move signifies a call for more stringent regulations on land use and residency in disaster-prone areas. The proposal was discussed at a subcommittee meeting of the Fiscal System Council, a panel advising the finance minister, on November 5.

The ministry outlined plans to revise river improvement strategies, as suggested by river administrators, to integrate land-use restrictions and encourage residents to relocate to safer areas. It also advocated for streamlining and prioritizing flood-control measures, such as focusing on particular zones for embankment reinforcement while being mindful of financial constraints.

Restrictions on land use and residency have been previously implemented in certain areas, including neighborhoods along the lower Arakawa River in Tokyo. The ministry estimated that such measures could decrease the population residing in risk zones to approximately 4.36 million by 2050, representing a potential 20% reduction from the current 20 million residents in 2020.

Furthermore, the ministry urged consideration of the impact when constructing infrastructure like roads, railways, and ports. A case in the Hokuriku region exemplified this need, where sections of a newly constructed expressway overlapped with a traditional railway line, leading to a nearly 50% decline in rail passengers and necessitating substantial subsidies to sustain the rail service.

To avoid similar issues, the ministry emphasized the requirement for infrastructure projects to be evaluated collectively and optimized as a unified system.