The Japanese parliament passed a bill to establish a "backup capital" to ensure the government can continue administering the country if Tokyo is severely affected by a major disaster. The bill passed narrowly with a vote of 123 to 121.
On 26 July 2026, foreign news agencies reported that the Japanese Senate approved and enacted a bill to establish a "backup capital" (Secondary Capital) to prepare for the possibility that Tokyo might be unable to function as the nation's administrative center due to a major disaster.
The bill was approved by a vote of 123 to 121. It mandates the government to select a suitable prefecture to serve as the government's operational center during emergencies, considering factors such as population size, economic scale, and readiness to establish a special administrative district similar to Tokyo's 23 wards.
Additionally, a special committee of the Senate passed a supplementary resolution requiring the government to carefully prepare measures to prevent overlaps between local elections and referendums in case a special administrative district is established under this law in the future.
Source: NHK