Sub-Capital Development Act takes effect as government establishes promotion secretariat

The government promulgated Cabinet Order No. 334 in the Official Gazette dated October 28, 2026, establishing October 30, 2026, as the enforcement date for the Act on the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and Measures for the Development of the Deputy Capital (Act No. 78 of 2026). Simultaneously, the Order for the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and the Development of the Deputy Capital (Cabinet Order No. 335), based on Article 30 of the same Act, was also promulgated. The promotional structure responsible for the backup of national functions and the decentralization of capital functions will legally commence operations on October 30.

Both Cabinet Orders were enacted by the Cabinet and signed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hisayuki Fujii countersigned the Cabinet Order regarding the enforcement date, and the table of contents of the Official Gazette lists the Cabinet Secretariat as the authority in charge of the Headquarters Order. Cabinet Order No. 334 is based on Article 1 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Act, and the Headquarters Order is based on Article 30 of the same Act.

Enforcement Date Set for October 30 and Integrated Arrangement of Related Cabinet Orders

Cabinet Order No. 334 sets the enforcement date of the Act as October 30, two days after promulgation, and simultaneously makes necessary amendments to related Cabinet Orders via the supplementary provisions.

• The enforcement date of the Act is October 30, 2026.
• In the “Cabinet” section of Appended Table 1 of the Cabinet Order on the Management of Retirement of Personnel (Cabinet Order No. 389 of 2008), “Secretariat established within the Headquarters for the Promotion of Medical Care Utilizing Ships” is changed to the Secretariat established within the new Headquarters.
• The new Headquarters is added to the list of headquarters in Article 1 of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets (Cabinet Order No. 336 of 2014).

Structure Establishing a Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Counselor, and Councilor in the Secretariat

The Headquarters Order defines the organization of the Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and the Development of the Deputy Capital (the Headquarters), designed on the premise that executives will concurrently hold other positions.

• The Secretary-General shall be appointed from among persons holding other relevant positions.
• There shall be one Deputy Secretary-General, who shall assist the Secretary-General and organize the affairs of the Secretariat.
• There shall be one Counselor, who shall participate in the planning and drafting of important matters concerning the affairs of the Secretariat and summarize and organize related administrative tasks.
• There shall be up to three Councilors, who shall share the affairs of the Secretariat or participate in the deliberation of important matters.
• These positions shall be part-time if the other position held by the appointee is part-time.
• The details of the organization shall be determined by the Prime Minister, and matters concerning the operation of the Headquarters shall be determined by the Head of the Headquarters after consulting with the Headquarters.

Policy Background Regarding the Backup of Core Capital Functions

Article 18, Paragraph 1 of the law stipulates matters regarding the designation of the deputy capital, and Cabinet Order No. 320, published in the Official Gazette on September 30, also treats the administrative tasks concerning this designation as a target for the development of relevant cabinet orders. In the National Diet on October 20, a written response was submitted regarding questions concerning the Tachikawa Wide-Area Disaster Prevention Base and the backup of central government functions in the deputy capital, and points regarding functional substitution in anticipation of a direct-hit earthquake in the capital and other scenarios continue to be deliberated.

From October 30 onward, the Cabinet Secretariat of the headquarters will be responsible for the planning and coordination of specific measures, centered around the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. In terms of practical operations, the immediate focus will be on determining operational policies under the Director-General, coordinating concurrent appointments with other ministries through the placement of executives on a part-time basis, and initiating the procedures for the designation of the deputy capital.

Official Sources: Cabinet Order No. 334 (Cabinet Order Establishing the Enforcement Date of the Act on the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and the Development of the Deputy Capital) and Cabinet Order No. 335 (Order on the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and the Development of the Deputy Capital), published in the Official Gazette (dated October 28, Reiwa 8). The governing law is the Act on the Promotion of Measures to Ensure the Continuity of National Social Functions and the Development of the Deputy Capital (Act No. 78 of Reiwa 8).