Japan's 'secondary capital' requirements unveiled

NHK has learned that the government has wrapped up draft requirements for Japan's potential "secondary capital." The designated city is expected to serve as an alternative center for the government's operations if a major disaster strikes Tokyo.

Government sources said four cities -- Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka -- currently meet all the draft requirements.

Following the enactment of related legislation at the Diet in July, the government plans to finalize an ordinance that sets specific requirements for the designation of a secondary capital.

One of the draft requirements is for candidate cities to be located outside areas designated by the government that could be affected by a major earthquake feared to hit directly beneath Tokyo or a possible eruption of Mount Fuji.

Another requirement is for candidate cities to have a population accounting for at least 1.2 percent of the country's total.

Candidate cities also need to have a prefectural GDP of 2.1 percent of Japan's GDP, or higher.

They are also required to already be hosting at least half of the central government's 28 types of branch offices. They are also required to set up special administrative areas similar to Tokyo's 23 wards.

The government plans to announce the draft requirements shortly and invite opinions from the public. It said it hopes to finalize the ordinance as soon as later this month.