Japan's upper house passed legislation on July 24 to establish a backup capital, approving the bill by a narrow 123-to-121 vote to ensure continuity of government and economic functions in the Tokyo metropolitan area during large-scale disasters.
The lawmakers' bill, jointly sponsored by the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai, cleared after Ishin accepted an accompanying resolution restricting simultaneous local elections and referendums. Prefectures are now mobilising to position themselves as candidate sites: Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura announced his intention to bid and will form a joint promotion council with Nagoya, while Osaka and Hokkaido are assembling task forces to prepare their own proposals. Fukuoka Prefecture has launched a coordination council with Fukuoka and Kitakyushu cities to study disaster backup functions.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike expressed a critical view of the backup capital concept. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to face a concentrated budget committee session in the lower house on July 27.