Toyama City Government employee suspected of falsely reporting population in census, Japan overpaid 60 million yen from central government
Quick Look
- Several employees of the Toyama City Government in Japan were suspected of falsely reporting the population in the 2025 census and including household registrations without actual residence in the census data, which increased the number of ghost households in the city by approximately 2,936.
- As a result, they overpaid a total of 60 million yen (approximately NT$12.1 million) in local taxes from the central government.
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported it to the police, and Toyama Prefectural police searched the office of the Municipal Planning and Coordination Section responsible for the census on the morning of the 3rd.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is responsible for supervising the census and fiscal allocation system of local governments. Local tax transfers are calculated based on population. The greater the population, the more central government subsidies you will receive.
It is reported that several employees of the Toyama City Government in Japan falsely reported the number of people during the census and received an extra 60 million yen from the central government. The picture shows an aerial view of Toyama City. (Picture taken from Toyama City Government official website)
Outrageous! It is reported that several employees of the Toyama City Government in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, falsely reported the number of people in the 2025 census, resulting in nearly 3,000 more ghost residents in the city. They used this to get an extra 60 million yen (approximately NT$12.1 million) in "local tax" allocated by the central government.
According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported to the police on the 29th of last month, pointing out that Toyama City civil servants included people who did not live locally in the census data. Ten investigators from the Toyama Prefectural Police went to the Toyama City Planning and Adjustment Section office responsible for the census at about 10 a.m. today (3rd) to start a search.
Please read on...
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications pointed out that households with "no actual place of residence" in the local area on the household registration list will have double horizontal lines crossed out, but Toyama civil servants removed the double horizontal lines to create the illusion that these residents are still in Toyama City, and multiple people may be involved in the case.
According to preliminary data on last year's national census released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in May this year, Toyama City's population was 402,133 people. However, the final population after correction on September 29 was 399,197 people, which was 2,936 less than the original population.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Toyama Prefecture police will complete the evidence collection and transfer it to the prosecutor to investigate the civil servants involved in the case
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How many Toyama city government employees are specifically involved in the case?
- Are there other local governments involved in similar cases of false population reporting?
- Will those involved face criminal prosecution?
