Shimane Prefecture Decides to Raise Minimum Wage to 1,092 Yen per Hour

The Shimane Labour Bureau announced in the Official Gazette (No. 1787) dated September 10, 2026, the decision to revise and increase the Shimane Prefecture Minimum Wage from 1,033 yen to 1,092 yen per hour. This revision is based on Article 12 of the Minimum Wage Act (Act No. 137 of 1959) and was officially announced under the name of Akihiko Nakamura, Director of the Shimane Labour Bureau, pursuant to the provisions of Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the same Act.

Legal Framework of the Revision

This decision was announced as Shimane Labour Bureau Minimum Wage Public Notice No. 1, taking the form of a partial amendment to the existing Shimane Prefecture Minimum Wage (Shimane Labour Standards Bureau Minimum Wage Public Notice No. 1 of 1980). The public notice explicitly states, “In Item 4, ‘1,033 yen per hour’ shall be amended to ‘1,092 yen per hour,’” resulting in an increase of 59 yen.

• Legal Basis: Article 12 of the Minimum Wage Act (Act No. 137 of 1959)
• Date of Public Notice: September 10, 2026
• Issuing Authority: Shimane Labour Bureau (Director Akihiko Nakamura)
• Public Notice Number: Shimane Labour Bureau Minimum Wage Public Notice No. 1
• Before Revision: 1,033 yen/hour $\rightarrow$ After Revision: 1,092 yen/hour

Impact on Workers in the Prefecture

While the revised hourly wage of 1,092 yen will push up the monthly income of full-time workers, it will lead to a direct wage increase for workers in the prefecture employed on an hourly basis, such as part-time and temporary staff. Since the minimum wage applies to all industries and all business establishments within the prefecture, the scope of affected workers is broad.

Ripple Effect on Employment Costs for SMEs

The wage increase will be a factor in increasing personnel costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the prefecture. In particular, in labor-intensive industries such as retail, food service, and hospitality, the rise in employment costs accompanying the review of hourly wage levels is expected to have a significant impact on management. Business owners are required to inspect and revise their wage systems to ensure they do not fall below the new minimum wage level.

Application Timing and Future Outlook

The public notice was issued on September 10, 2026, and the revised minimum wage will be applied to business establishments in the prefecture following the prescribed procedures after the announcement. The minimum wage in Shimane Prefecture is revised annually in line with the nationwide trend of increases; this 59-yen increase is expected to contribute to raising the overall wage level in the prefecture and stabilizing the livelihoods of workers.

Workers and business owners in the prefecture are urged to review their wage and employment management based on the revised minimum wage. For details, please refer to Shimane Labour Bureau Minimum Wage Public Notice No. 1 published in the Official Gazette (September 10, 2026, No. 1787).

Source: Official Gazette, September 10, 2026, No. 1787, “Public Notice Regarding the Decision to Revise the Minimum Wage (Shimane Labour Bureau Minimum Wage Public Notice No. 1)” — Akihiko Nakamura, Director of the Shimane Labour Bureau, Minimum Wage Act (Act No. 137 of 1959) Article 12 and Article 14, Paragraph 1.