Kumamoto Earthquake Housing Subsidy Raised for Three Municipalities
Overview
Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town in Kumamoto Prefecture, where homes sustained damage above a specified threshold from the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, have been designated for the special increase in national subsidies for constructing public housing for disaster victims and related work. The subsidy rate will rise from two-thirds for ordinary disasters to three-quarters. Additional municipalities found to meet the requirements as damage assessments progress are expected to be designated as needed.
Key points
- The three designated municipalities are Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town in Kumamoto Prefecture.
- The national subsidy rate for constructing public housing for disaster victims and related work will rise from two-thirds for ordinary disasters to three-quarters.
- Municipalities that meet the requirements are expected to be designated as additional targets as damage assessments progress.
Overview
The disaster caused by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake was designated a severe disaster under the name “Disaster Caused by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake” on August 7, 2026.
On September 29, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism designated three municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture with home damage above a specified threshold as eligible municipalities under the special measure, pursuant to the Severe Disaster Special Financial Assistance Act.
Impact
When public housing for disaster victims is constructed or related work is carried out for people who lived in the designated areas and lost their homes, the national subsidy rate for the costs will rise from two-thirds to three-quarters.
Details
The designated municipalities are Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town in Kumamoto Prefecture. Other municipalities not designated this time are expected to be added as needed if damage assessments show that they meet the requirements.
Eligible areas are municipal jurisdictions with at least 100 destroyed homes, or where destroyed homes amount to at least one-tenth of the municipality’s total housing units.
The system is based on Article 22, Paragraph 1 of the Severe Disaster Special Financial Assistance Act and Article 41 of its Enforcement Order. For the special eligibility rules for occupants under Article 21 of the Act on Special Measures for Reconstruction of Affected Urban Areas in relation to this disaster, the original text provides a reference to the relevant source.