Which city could become Japan's 'second capital'?

A heated race is currently underway in Japan. The prize? The honour of being crowned the Japanese secondary capital.

With Japanese lawmakers approving a bill to designate at least one more destination as a backup capital, soon, Tokyo will be joined by another political and economic centre.

Why the need for this move?

This is rooted in disaster preparedness. In 2026 alone, Japan has been beset by strong earthquakes, severe tropical storms and record snowfall.

While the country has one of the world’s most disaster-tested infrastructures, the move aims to ensure the government can continue operating, even if Tokyo is struck by a natural disaster or emergency.