Govt expands Kumamoto earthquake measures with social education facility subsidies

On September 17, the government promulgated a Cabinet Order to partially amend the Cabinet Order concerning the designation of severe disasters resulting from the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake and the measures to be applied thereto (Cabinet Order No. 298). It is under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office (Main Office) and was published in the extra special edition of the Official Gazette on the same date. It comes into effect from the date of promulgation, and subsidies for disaster recovery projects for public social education facilities implemented by affected local governments are newly added to the severe disaster measures.

The basis for the amendment is Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Special Financial Assistance etc. for Coping with Severe Disasters (Act No. 150 of 1962). Based on this paragraph, the Cabinet revised the table of the main text of the Cabinet Order concerning the designation of severe disasters resulting from the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake and the measures to be applied thereto (Cabinet Order No. 259 of Reiwa 8). Additionally, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 112 (August 28), based on Article 24 of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on Special Financial Assistance etc. for Coping with Severe Disasters (Cabinet Order No. 403 of 1962), designates the date determined by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as February 27, Reiwa 9, and designations by sector are proceeding in parallel.

Basis and Procedure for the Partial Amendment of the Severe Disaster Designation Cabinet Order

The amendment was carried out by adding “, Article 16, Article 17, Article 19, Article 22” below “until” in the table of the main text of Cabinet Order No. 259 of Reiwa 8. As a result, financial assistance measures based on new clauses will be applied to the severe disasters designated by the said Cabinet Order. This is a Cabinet Order enacted by the Cabinet based on the delegation of the law and takes effect upon promulgation.

Details of the Four Newly Applied Financial Assistance Measures

The measures applied to the severe disaster of the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake in this amendment are the following four:

• Subsidies for disaster recovery projects for public social education facilities
• Subsidies for disaster recovery projects for private school facilities
• Special provisions for burdens regarding infectious disease prevention projects implemented by municipalities
• Special provisions for subsidies for projects to construct public housing for disaster victims

Recovery of Public Social Education Facilities Directly Linked to Local Government Financial Resources

Public social education facilities primarily consist of facilities established by municipalities, such as community centers, libraries, and museums, and the cost of repairing damage caused by the earthquake weighs heavily on the independent financial resources of local governments. The application of subsidy measures opens the way to receive national financial assistance for recovery project costs. Along with the measures for private school facilities, public housing for disaster victims, and infectious disease prevention projects, recovery funds for the affected areas will be secured in the fields of education, housing, and public health.

Enforcement from the Date of Promulgation and Joint Signature by Five Cabinet Ministers

The Cabinet Order shall come into effect on the date of promulgation, and the supplementary provisions also stipulate enforcement from the date of promulgation. The five individuals who countersigned are Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yohei Matsumoto, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasuyuki Kaneko.

For the affected local governments, the addition of the restoration of public social education facilities to the scope of national subsidies will make it easier to envision the reconstruction of facilities and the resumption of residents’ learning and cultural activities. As it comes into effect from the date of promulgation, the measures after the amendment will apply from September 17 onwards.

Source: Official Gazette, September 17, 2026, Extra Special Issue, Cabinet Order No. 298 “Cabinet Order to Partially Amend the Cabinet Order Concerning the Designation of Severe Disasters Caused by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and the Measures to be Applied Thereto” (Cabinet Office), Cabinet Order No. 259 of 2026, Act No. 150 of 1962, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 112 (August 28, 2026).