METI names 14 Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui towns as disaster areas

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), in METI Notice No. 122 published in the Official Gazette (No. 1797) dated September 29, 2026, designated a total of 14 municipalities across Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui Prefectures as disaster areas based on Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act (Act No. 264 of 1950), in relation to the disasters accompanying heavy rain starting from August 27, 2026. The designation period is from August 27, 2026, to December 28, 2026. The notice is signed by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa.

Framework for Disaster Area Designation under the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act

Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the said Act stipulates that the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry shall designate the “disaster” and “area” that serve as the prerequisites for special credit insurance measures targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whose business stability has been hindered by a disaster. Through this designation, affected SMEs become eligible to utilize disaster-related guarantees from Credit Guarantee Corporations, enabling them to raise business funds through a separate quota from their regular guarantee limits.

This notice targets municipalities in the three Hokuriku prefectures affected by heavy rain on or after August 27. Other notices published in the Official Gazette of the same date include Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice No. 296 (Amendment to Annex A of the Minamata Convention on Mercury) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Notice No. 1173 (Designation of severe disaster related to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake). Similar designations by METI follow Notice No. 117 dated September 15 (Chiba Prefecture) and Notice No. 118 dated September 18 (Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture), with areas and periods determined individually for each disaster.

Breakdown of the 14 Designated Municipalities

The target areas are as follows:

• Toyama Prefecture: Takaoka City, Himi City, Oyabe City, Imizu City
• Ishikawa Prefecture: Hakui City, Shika Town (Hakui District), Hodatsushimizu Town (Hakui District), Nakanoto Town (Kashima District)
• Fukui Prefecture: Fukui City, Ono City, Katsuyama City, Awara City, Sakai City, Eiheiji Town (Yoshida District)

Four cities in Toyama, one city and three towns in Ishikawa, and five cities and one town in Fukui were designated, spanning a wide area along the Sea of Japan coast.

Designation Period and Legal Basis

The conditions specified in the notice are as follows:

• Disaster Name: Disasters accompanying heavy rain starting from August 27, 2026
• Designation Period: From August 27, 2026, to December 28, 2026
• Legal Basis: Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act (Act No. 264 of 1950)
• Notice Date: September 29, 2026
• Issuer: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa

The start date of the designated period is August 27, the date of the disaster, and the end date is December 28. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) certified by their municipality within this period will be eligible for disaster-related guarantees from the Credit Guarantee Association.

Impact on Financing for Affected SMEs

Once an area is designated as a disaster-stricken region, affected SMEs can receive certification for “disaster-related guarantees” from their municipality, allowing them to borrow business funds from financial institutions with a guarantee from the Credit Guarantee Association. Since the guarantee limit is set separately from the standard limit, it becomes easier for businesses with existing loans to secure additional financing.

In the three prefectures of the Hokuriku region, SMEs in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, and construction have suffered damage from heavy rains since August 27. This designation will lead to the securing of immediate working capital and funds for equipment restoration. Businesses in the target areas must apply for certification at the counter of their local municipality within the designated period.

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• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 122 (September 29, Reiwa 8)
• Official Gazette No. 1797 (September 29, Reiwa 8)
• Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act (Act No. 264 of 1950), Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4