Japan passed a law to designate one of its cities as a second capital, triggering a flurry of public relations campaigns by the 13 local governments vying for the mantle.
Deemed necessary for ensuring continuity of government in the earthquake-, typhoon-, and flood-prone nation, the law dangles an opportunity for hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies, possible tax breaks, tourism, and urban revival.
Business-flush Osaka, a leading contender, has even designated a mascot for the effort, a talking cat named Fukumaru.
“A ‘don’t-miss-the-Gold-Rush’ mentality has taken hold,” a Tokyo-based expert told The New York Times, but the initiative must promote growth to offset population decline in rural areas, or it “will bring 100 harms and not one good.”