-
Everyone: “I wouldn’t move to Miyazaki Prefecture if they paid me.”
投稿日 2020年1月14日 22:00:45 (ニュース)
-
続・お知らせ。海外セレブゴシップ&ニュース
-
お知らせ
-
We spot the legendary dekotora Aki Kannon, dedicated to actress and singer Aki Yashiro
-
New Pokémon GU collaboration dresses all the family, including babies for the first time
-
How do European Cup Noodles taste to a Japanese palate?
-
We’ve been doing it wrong – Japanese genius shows us how we should all be making sandwiches【Pics】
-
The future is now with full face sunglasses
-
Natto-infused ramen is a thing — we tried it, we love it【Taste test】
-
Jellyfish and Halloween in perfect harmony at Sumida Aquarium event
-
Japanese toilet paper collection opens our minds as we open our butts
-
Aomori police on the lookout for man shouting unsolicited advice at kids about dating and ramen
-
Former Arashi members Sho Sakurai and Masaki Aiba get married… Wait, that didn’t come out right
-
Creator of Japan’s longest-running manga, Golgo 13, passes away, leaves fans one last gift
-
Crazy cheap cosplay at Daiso? How to transform into Dragon Ball’s Vegeta at the discount shop
-
7 Halloween-themed afternoon teas you won’t want to miss this year
-
Krispy Kreme Japan creates doughnut burgers that are a meal and two desserts all in one【Photos】
-
Get in the damn drift car, Shinji? Evangelion Tomika toy brings D1 machine home in miniature form
-
Demon Slayer Nichiren Blades ready for new duty: Slicing through your sweets as dessert knives
-
Man in Japan arrested for breaking into ex-girlfriend’s apartment to steal her Nintendo Switch
-
The Japanese Internet chooses the top too-sexy-for-their-own-good male voices in anime
-
First-ever Studio Ghibli x Russell Athletic range pays homage to My Neighbour Totoro
-
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan announces first expansion with new Donkey Kong area
-
Cup Noodle pouch satisfies our never-ending need for instant ramen
-
Retro Japanese train is our new favourite office space
-
How do Japanese fans feel about Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop opening sequence?
-
We try Uniqlo coffee at first-ever cafe inside Ginza flagship store
-
The number of elderly people in Japan this year has yet again smashed multiple records
-
Mr. Sato broadens his home drinking horizons at Kaldi【Japan’s Best Home Senbero】
-
We try Japanese Twitter’s newest trend the Penguin Egg, end up hatching something very disturbing
-
Takoyaki makers surprisingly good at grilling meat for yakiniku too
Sponsored Link
Gorgeous but remote region struggles to bring people in.
Tucked away in the south-western island of Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture has a lot to boast. It’s home to the KonMari Method and the mummified remains of a mythical creature to name but a few of its unique charms. And yet, like many rural parts of Japan, it is suffering from the problem of population decline.
Also, like many other rural areas, they’ve begun promotional measures to help draw in fresh blood. Along with some quirky ads that got national attention, Miyazaki began a campaign offering annual “support payments” of up to one million yen (US$9,100) for families or 600,000 yen ($5,500) for singles willing to relocate there and work in one of its companies.
It’s a juicy incentive to say the least, and after applications begun in late October of last year, the response has been as terrible as one could imagine. In a span of about two months, not a single person applied to move to Miyazaki under the program.
So how come no one is even interested to apply? Sure, one million yen isn’t enough to upend one’s entire life, but for anyone who happens to be looking for a fresh start these days, it’s certainly an attractive offer.
Reps from Miyazki have admitted that certain strings attached from the offer have made it less attractive. For example, in order to qualify you must “have had a steady job outside the prefecture for five years before moving into Miyazaki.”
Sponsored Link
Also, in order to qualify for the full amount advertised, applicants are expected to work in either the farming or fishery fields. However, those conditions actually aren’t uncommon among these types of offers and are used to screen out people more interested in easy money that genuinely making a life for themselves in a new place.
And therein lies the problem. Areas all over Japan are offering similar monetary incentives, but they are closer to more populated areas. Koshu, Yamanashi is one example, which is only 121 kilometers from the heart of Tokyo, but has the exact same deal.
▼ And they got wine!
Factoring the cost of relocating a whole family, the financial difference between moving to either Koshu and Miyazaki is considerable. It’s simple economics really, and though the Miyazaki officials didn’t acknowledge it, the fact was definitely not lost on netizens.
“I feel bad for their problem, but I can’t change my life for two or three month’s salary.”
“One million yen isn’t much after moving expenses.”
“They should try 10 million, just to see.”
“I might do it for 100 million.”
“One million yen to live in a depopulated area for the rest of my life?”
“Unless it’s one million annually, that’s not possible.”
“I’m surprised no one wants to live in the countryside. Everyone just stays indoors on the Internet all the time anyway. You can do that anywhere.”
“Miyazaki’s a nice place!”
Nevertheless, Miyazaki officials apologized for the hurdles and promise find ways to make their offer more accessible. They also said that they’ve received a lot of interest from outside businesses, which could end up being more lucrative than inviting individuals in the long run anyway.
In the end, it’s important to remember that none of this is any indication that something is wrong with Miyazaki. All over Japan everyone has a lot of love for this charming and stunningly beautiful coastal prefecture. It’s just that no one’s ready to take that love to the next level and move in with it.
Source: NHK News Web, Hachima Kiko, Koshu City
Top image: YouTube/Miyazaki Tegetege Tsushin
Insert image: ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Source: SORA NEWS24
Sponsored Link
最新情報