News Ichikawa Japan's first city to give premarital couples housing aid

The program covers two groups: couples renting a home together before marriage and newlyweds renting after marriage. To qualify, both individuals must be aged 39 or younger, have a combined annual income under 6 million yen (about $40,000), and be registered residents of Ichikawa. Subsidies include 50,000 yen (around $330) for initial housing costs, such as security deposits, key money, and brokerage fees, and a monthly subsidy of 20,000 yen (about $130) for rent and service charges, with a maximum annual benefit of 290,000 yen (around $1,900). Couples who receive support before marriage can also apply for subsidies afresh when they rent a home after marriage. Although the program starts in April, it will be retroactively applied to 1 March. Mayor Koh Tanaka shared his hopes for the initiative, stating, "I would be delighted if people think of Ichikawa as a place of freedom."

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