Key Facts
• On August 25, Mayor Norihiko Fukuda announced the expansion of free medical care.
• Current program covers children up to 9th grade regardless of household income.
• Starting September 2025, coverage will extend to 12th grade.
• Kawasaki and Yokohama were the only cities in Kanagawa Prefecture still limiting coverage to 9th grade.
• 31 out of 33 municipalities in the prefecture already provide free care up to 12th grade.
• Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka recently won re-election with a similar policy pledge.
• Kawasaki City Council submitted a request for expansion on August 18.
• The city will propose a revised ordinance in the September council session.
• Current system charges ¥500 per outpatient visit for children in 4th grade and above.
• This fee will also be abolished under the new policy.
• The expansion and fee removal will require an additional ¥13.7 billion in funding.
• Mayor Fukuda emphasized the importance of making Kawasaki a child-friendly city.
Summary
Kawasaki City will expand its free pediatric medical care program to include high school seniors starting September 2025. Currently, the program covers children up to 9th grade, but the city is aligning with 31 other municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture that already provide coverage through 12th grade. The decision follows a request from the city council and reflects growing regional trends, including Yokohama’s recent policy shift. The expansion will eliminate the ¥500 outpatient fee for children in 4th grade and above, requiring an additional ¥13.7 billion in funding. Mayor Norihiko Fukuda stated that the move aims to enhance Kawasaki’s reputation as a child-friendly city.
