Most government employees received winter bonuses Wednesday that were 7.3 percent less than the previous year, falling for the fifth consecutive year.
The decline contrasts with larger winter bonuses at many businesses because bonus payments to government employees are based on private-sector payments the previous year.
The average payment to national government employees in nonmanagerial administrative jobs was about 614,000 yen for a 36-year-old employee, and that to local government employees was about 573,000 yen for a 35-year-old employee, according to government data.
Both payments represent a 7.3 percent fall from last year.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Supreme Court Chief Justice Akira Machida were paid the most, each receiving 5.42 million yen.
Each Cabinet minister got 3.96 million yen, and administrative vice ministers received 3.16 million yen.