Japan to subsidize trips to quake-hit Kyushu region among other measures

The Japanese government on Thursday announced a package of measures to support recovery from the recent earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, including a travel discount program to revitalize tourism in the Kyushu region. The package was adopted at an emergency disaster response headquarters meeting nearly a month after the July 28 quake, which recorded the maximum seismic intensity level of 7 on the Japanese scale in some areas of Kumamoto. A total of ¥147.8 billion will be allocated for the package.

The government will decide on Friday to tap the reserve fund of the fiscal 2026 budget to cover the spending. Details of the travel program will be decided at a later date. The government is considering subsidizing 60% of the fees for trips to southern Kyushu.

In the basic policy written in the package, the government said that Kumamoto has incurred the “quadruple suffering” of the July 28 temblor, the 2016 quake disaster and two heavy rain disasters. The package announced a shift from what the government calls “push-type” assistance of delivering goods without waiting for requests to “pull-type” aid based on needs. The package includes support for the demolition of destroyed or severely damaged houses and a relief grant for disaster-afflicted people of up to ¥3 million.

Assistance will be provided for evacuees to clean and repair wells to secure water for daily use, and travel to school and hospitals. The government will raise the subsidy rate for small and midsize businesses to restore facilities and support business operators with multiple debts. For financing support for agricultural, forestry and fishery operators, interest costs will be reduced for five years from the time when loans are taken out.

The package said that the government will also consider supporting the semiconductor industry in Kumamoto, which is home to a major Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant. Takaichi also pledged to bring forward the government’s target of 100% installation of air conditioners at school gymnasiums and other facilities set to serve as shelters in times of disasters, from the end of fiscal 2035 to the end of fiscal 2031.