The minimum wages by prefecture for fiscal year 2025 have been finalized.
With this revision, all 47 prefectures will exceed ¥1,000 per hour, with increases ranging from ¥63 to ¥82 — the largest adjustments to date.
The national weighted average has risen to ¥1,121 (up from ¥1,055 last year). This ¥66 increase in the nationwide average is the largest since the guideline system was introduced in 1978, marking an unprecedented level.
Furthermore, the ratio between the highest and lowest minimum wages has improved to 83.4%, continuing an 11-year streak of narrowing gaps. While regional disparities are gradually shrinking, differences in business scale and industrial structure mean the impact will vary by area.
This revision is expected to have a significant impact on corporate HR and labor management. Companies will likely need to review their recruitment strategies and wage structures in light of the updated regional minimum wages.
