METI designates Typhoon 25 disaster areas and SME guarantee…

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), in METI Notice No. 140 dated October 26 (Subject: “Matter Concerning the Designation of Disasters and Regions under Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act”), designated the disasters associated with Typhoon No. 25 of 2026 as disasters and regions based on Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act (Act No. 264 of 1950). The targets are thirty-six cities and thirteen towns and villages in Chiba Prefecture, and the island town of Oshima in Tokyo, with the designation period running from September 20, 2026, to January 25, 2027. The notice was promulgated in the name of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and published in the Official Gazette on the same date.

Legal Basis and Positioning within the Credit Guarantee System

This provision is a regulation that allows small and medium-sized enterprises whose business environment has deteriorated due to a disaster to utilize credit guarantees through prefectural credit guarantee associations as a separate framework from regular guarantee limits. By the national government confirming the disaster name, region, and period via public notice, the certification process by municipalities and the screening by guarantee associations begin operating under the same criteria.

This notice names the damage caused by Typhoon No. 25 as the “Disaster associated with Typhoon No. 25 of 2026” and adopts a format of listing regions by municipality rather than by prefecture. Regarding Chiba Prefecture, instead of listing the entire prefecture as a whole, thirty-six cities and thirteen towns and villages were listed individually.

Target Municipalities within Chiba Prefecture

Cities (36 cities): Chiba City, Choshi City, Ichikawa City, Funabashi City, Tateyama City, Kisarazu City, Matsudo City, Noda City, Mobara City, Narita City, Sakura City, Togane City, Asahi City, Narashino City, Kashiwa City, Katsuura City, Ichihara City, Nagareyama City, Yachiyo City, Abiko City, Kamogawa City, Kamakaya City, Kimitsu City, Futtsu City, Yotsukaido City, Sodegaura City, Yachimata City, Inzai City, Shiroi City, Toriide City, Minamiboso City, Sosa City, Katori City, Sanmu City, Isumi City, Oamishirasato City
Towns and Villages (13 towns/villages): Inba District Shisui Town, Sakae Town; Katori District Kanzaki Town; Sanmu District Kujukuri Town, Yokoshibahikari Town; Chosei District Mutsuzawa Town, Chosei Village, Shiroko Town, Nagara Town, Chonan Town; Isumu District Otaki Town, Onjuku Town; Awa District Kyonan Town
Tokyo: Island town of Oshima

Designation Period and Impact on Application Procedures

Designated Period: From September 20, 2026 to January 25, 2027 (approximately four months)
The start date is set according to the timing of the typhoon’s approach and landfall, and is applied retroactively to the date the damage occurred
Affected businesses must obtain certification from their local municipality and apply for a guarantee from the Credit Guarantee Association within the designated period
In Chiba Prefecture, another designation (from August 13, 2026, to December 14, 2026) was made under Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 117 dated September 15 as “disasters accompanying heavy rain from August 13, 2026”; this current notice marks the second consecutive disaster designation

Practical Implications for SME Financing

With this notice, the period during which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with offices in the target municipalities within Chiba Prefecture and Oshima Town, Tokyo, can utilize disaster-related guarantee systems has been finalized. A certification letter from the municipality is required to use the system, and the certification criteria and necessary documents will be provided at the respective local government offices. For financial institutions, from October 26 onwards, they will be required to verify the notice number and designated period when handling loan consultations for the target areas.

The damage from Typhoon No. 25 extended over a wide area of Chiba Prefecture. Combined with the designation for the heavy rains in September, SMEs within the prefecture need to determine which of the two disaster designations they fall under. Since eligibility for guarantees is determined for each disaster, the practical starting point for businesses is to confirm the date their damage occurred and the designation status of their location.

Official Sources

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 140, “Matter concerning the designation of disasters and regions under Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act,” October 26, 2026, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa
Published in the Official Gazette on October 26, 2026 (Monday)
Legal Basis: Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Insurance Act (Act No. 264 of 1950), Article 2, Paragraph 5, Item 4
Related Notice: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Notice No. 117 (September 15, 2026, regarding disasters accompanying heavy rain from August 13, 2026)