Kansai's political and business leaders are stepping up efforts to convince those in Tokyo that Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe should be designated Japan's backup capital to ensure that companies, government organs, foreign delegations and even the Imperial Family will continue to function in the event of a Kanto-area disaster.
But while even a temporary Kansai shift may make economic and logistical sense, personal circumstances and cultural and social differences between the two regions mean that convincing large numbers of Tokyoites to flee to Kansai could prove difficult.
In the aftermath of the March 11 quake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear crisis, thousands of Tokyo residents — foreign and Japanese alike — fled to the Kansai region. While most had either returned to Tokyo or left Japan by early April, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported later that month that it was getting dozens of inquiries from Tokyo-based firms, including foreign firms, asking for introductions to local real estate agents.