Saga Sets ¥5.5B Budget for Inclusion and Innovation

Saga Prefecture held a press conference to announce its November 2025 supplemental budget, totaling ¥5.5 billion. The part of funds will be allocated to several initiatives aimed at inclusivity, environmental education, sports development, and care technology.

Outdoor Festival for People with Disabilities (¥6 million)

As part of its “Saga-Style” barrier-free initiatives, the prefecture will host an outdoor festival at Yoshinogari Ruins Park in March 2026. The event will allow people with disabilities to enjoy camping, sports, and balloon rides alongside other participants. The park itself will reopen at the same time with new facilities designed for outdoor activities. The Governor emphasized that the festival will be enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability or nationality.

Preparing Facilities to Address Ocean Plastics (¥6 million)

Saga Prefecture is preparing to open an educational facility in Karatsu in June 2026, where visitors can learn about the problem of ocean plastics. The prefecture has already organized beach clean-up events and international symposiums related to the issue. To position the facility as a tourism attraction, Saga will work with travel agencies to create packages targeting school trips, corporate training programs, and inbound tourists.

Developing Soccer Facilities for Youth (¥120 million)

Saga will build “Nest Village,” a training complex for soccer players under 15 years old. The facility will include a practice field, training rooms, showers, and a sports medicine and science center that provides both treatment and daily support for athletes. The practice field is scheduled to open in April 2026. The prefecture hopes the facility will contribute to the growth of local team Sagan Tosu and advance the SSP Project, which promotes community development through sports.

Expanding Support for Care Technology (¥160 million)

To address labor shortages and the physical demands of caregiving, Saga Prefecture is increasing subsidies for the introduction of care-related ICT equipment. The prefecture has already established a support center to promote technologies that reduce physical strain and improve efficiency. Demand for such subsidies has exceeded expectations, prompting the budget increase.