Japan’s Minimum Wage Set to Rise 55 Yen, Slower Than Workers Sought

A smaller increase

A government advisory panel recommended raising Japan’s average minimum hourly wage by 55 yen, or 4.9%, to 1,176 yen for fiscal 2026, according to Jiji Press on 28 July. The increase was smaller than last year’s 63 yen, and labour representatives had pushed for 75 yen.

Local councils go further

Prefectural councils set the final rates, and 33 of the 47 prefectures exceeded the national recommendation by 1 to 9 yen. Tokyo’s minimum will be 1,280 yen, the highest, while Miyazaki’s will be 1,085 yen, the lowest, narrowing the gap between them to 195 yen. For more, see our economy section.

Source: Central Minimum Wages Council recommendation (28 July 2026) and prefectural tallies reported by Jiji Press (3 September 2026).

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