Hojokin Flash Survey: If Considering Store Attraction Improvement - This Week, Wage Increase Subsidies Are About 1.9 Times the Previous Week
An AI analysis by 'Hojokin Flash' reveals that wage increase subsidies in the second week of April 2026 surged to 1.9 times the previous week. It highlights opportunities to combine store renovations with employee compensation improvements.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 03:32 (17h 0m after Collected)
The service 'Hojokin Flash' (https://hojokin-kensaku.jp/), which allows users to search for subsidies and grants nationwide using AI, has aggregated and analyzed 191 cases of subsidies, grants, and support systems registered in the service whose public offerings started in the second week of April 2026.
Those looking solely for regional revitalization systems might feel that "candidates have decreased this week," but systems for wage increases and productivity improvement include multiple options applicable for local store renovations and employee compensation improvements. It is a week where searching by combining these themes will broaden the candidates.
[Analysis Results Summary]
(1) Regional revitalization systems that can be used for local store renovations and attracting customers are still found at the top this week. However, since the number has decreased to about two-thirds of the previous week, organizing the budget size and renovation details in advance will help find candidates faster.
(2) For those who want to simultaneously improve employee compensation, this is a week where systems for wage increases have expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week. By combining this with regional revitalization, candidates can be found that allow combined applications for salary increases and store renovations.
(3) Regional unevenness continues, with about 30% concentrated in the Kanto region. If there are few candidates locally, checking nationwide systems as well will reduce missed opportunities.
■ Survey Overview
Survey Target: Subsidies, grants, and support systems listed on Hojokin Flash
Survey Method: Aggregate analysis of public information listed on Hojokin Flash
Survey Purpose: To aggregate systems that started public offerings in the second week of April 2026 (4/12 - 4/18) and analyze week-over-week trends in regional revitalization support and shifts in related themes.
Survey Period: April 12, 2026 - April 18, 2026
Survey Area: Nationwide
Number of Cases Surveyed: 191 cases this week (275 cases previous week)
Survey Entity: Hojokin Flash (Operated by Franca AI Inc.)
■ Main Survey Results
[Support Trend Summary for the 2nd Week of April]
For SMEs and sole proprietors planning local store renovations and customer attraction improvements, this week allows searching for candidates by combining multiple themes rather than just regional revitalization.
The number of public offerings started this week (2026/04/12 - 2026/04/18) was 191, with regional revitalization systems decreasing to about two-thirds of the previous week.
On the other hand, wage increase subsidies expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week, and productivity improvement aligned at the second largest scale this week. If planning simultaneous improvements in store attraction and employee compensation/operational efficiency, candidates can be found that allow combined applications across these three themes.
[Changes by Purpose]
Source: Hojokin Flash (Proprietary Database) / Aggregation Date: 2026/04/21
Subsidies for wage increases and disaster prevention/BCP measures expanded simultaneously, making it a week where employee compensation improvements and store disaster preparedness can be planned together.
Systems for wage increases expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week. For those in retail, food and beverage, and accommodation industries employing staff locally, candidates that can be utilized alongside raising salary levels have increased. There are also systems overlapping with human resource development and employment expansion themes, including those that allow combined applications for entrepreneurship/new business and human resource development, such as Yamaguchi Prefecture's FY2026 Ube City Young Entrepreneur Challenge Subsidy (up to 1.5 million yen).
Disaster prevention and BCP measures have also expanded from the previous week, increasing candidates for those considering introducing disaster prevention equipment in stores and facilities.
Meanwhile, for those searching under the regional revitalization theme, this is a timing where the number of cases decreased despite maintaining the top spot. By searching in combination with productivity improvement, systems that serve both store attraction improvement and operational efficiency become candidates.
[Regional Characteristics]
Source: Hojokin Flash (Proprietary Database) / Aggregation Date: 2026/04/21
This week, about 30% are concentrated in Kanto, with Chubu, Kyushu, and Tohoku aligning at a similar scale.
In Kanto, systems covering costs for IT implementation and terminal purchases for small businesses are included, such as Kanagawa Prefecture's FY2026 Kanagawa Prefecture Small Business Digitalization Support Promotion Project Subsidy (up to 500,000 yen). This composition is usable by those considering updating store cash registers or reservation systems.
Chubu, Kyushu, and Tohoku all aligned in the low 20s this week. Systems covering both store remodeling and sales promotion enhancement comprehensively can be found, such as Kagoshima Prefecture's Amami City Thriving Store Creation Support Project Subsidy (up to 800,000 yen).
For business owners in regions with few local candidates, checking nationwide systems will expand the candidates they can apply for regardless of location.
[Tide of the 2nd Week of April]
The candidate that expanded the most compared to the previous week was systems for wage increases, making it a week where the center of gravity shifted from a single focus on regional revitalization to combining multiple themes.
April, the start of the fiscal year, is when local governments begin public offerings for the new fiscal year. With a background where themes linked to national policy guidelines such as wage increases and disaster response expand simultaneously, it is structurally a week where candidates broaden even for those who have been searching mainly around regional revitalization if they combine related themes.
Those looking solely for regional revitalization systems might feel that "candidates have decreased this week," but systems for wage increases and productivity improvement include multiple options applicable for local store renovations and employee compensation improvements. It is a week where searching by combining these themes will broaden the candidates.
[Analysis Results Summary]
(1) Regional revitalization systems that can be used for local store renovations and attracting customers are still found at the top this week. However, since the number has decreased to about two-thirds of the previous week, organizing the budget size and renovation details in advance will help find candidates faster.
(2) For those who want to simultaneously improve employee compensation, this is a week where systems for wage increases have expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week. By combining this with regional revitalization, candidates can be found that allow combined applications for salary increases and store renovations.
(3) Regional unevenness continues, with about 30% concentrated in the Kanto region. If there are few candidates locally, checking nationwide systems as well will reduce missed opportunities.
■ Survey Overview
Survey Target: Subsidies, grants, and support systems listed on Hojokin Flash
Survey Method: Aggregate analysis of public information listed on Hojokin Flash
Survey Purpose: To aggregate systems that started public offerings in the second week of April 2026 (4/12 - 4/18) and analyze week-over-week trends in regional revitalization support and shifts in related themes.
Survey Period: April 12, 2026 - April 18, 2026
Survey Area: Nationwide
Number of Cases Surveyed: 191 cases this week (275 cases previous week)
Survey Entity: Hojokin Flash (Operated by Franca AI Inc.)
■ Main Survey Results
[Support Trend Summary for the 2nd Week of April]
For SMEs and sole proprietors planning local store renovations and customer attraction improvements, this week allows searching for candidates by combining multiple themes rather than just regional revitalization.
The number of public offerings started this week (2026/04/12 - 2026/04/18) was 191, with regional revitalization systems decreasing to about two-thirds of the previous week.
On the other hand, wage increase subsidies expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week, and productivity improvement aligned at the second largest scale this week. If planning simultaneous improvements in store attraction and employee compensation/operational efficiency, candidates can be found that allow combined applications across these three themes.
[Changes by Purpose]
Source: Hojokin Flash (Proprietary Database) / Aggregation Date: 2026/04/21
Subsidies for wage increases and disaster prevention/BCP measures expanded simultaneously, making it a week where employee compensation improvements and store disaster preparedness can be planned together.
Systems for wage increases expanded to about 1.9 times the previous week. For those in retail, food and beverage, and accommodation industries employing staff locally, candidates that can be utilized alongside raising salary levels have increased. There are also systems overlapping with human resource development and employment expansion themes, including those that allow combined applications for entrepreneurship/new business and human resource development, such as Yamaguchi Prefecture's FY2026 Ube City Young Entrepreneur Challenge Subsidy (up to 1.5 million yen).
Disaster prevention and BCP measures have also expanded from the previous week, increasing candidates for those considering introducing disaster prevention equipment in stores and facilities.
Meanwhile, for those searching under the regional revitalization theme, this is a timing where the number of cases decreased despite maintaining the top spot. By searching in combination with productivity improvement, systems that serve both store attraction improvement and operational efficiency become candidates.
[Regional Characteristics]
Source: Hojokin Flash (Proprietary Database) / Aggregation Date: 2026/04/21
This week, about 30% are concentrated in Kanto, with Chubu, Kyushu, and Tohoku aligning at a similar scale.
In Kanto, systems covering costs for IT implementation and terminal purchases for small businesses are included, such as Kanagawa Prefecture's FY2026 Kanagawa Prefecture Small Business Digitalization Support Promotion Project Subsidy (up to 500,000 yen). This composition is usable by those considering updating store cash registers or reservation systems.
Chubu, Kyushu, and Tohoku all aligned in the low 20s this week. Systems covering both store remodeling and sales promotion enhancement comprehensively can be found, such as Kagoshima Prefecture's Amami City Thriving Store Creation Support Project Subsidy (up to 800,000 yen).
For business owners in regions with few local candidates, checking nationwide systems will expand the candidates they can apply for regardless of location.
[Tide of the 2nd Week of April]
The candidate that expanded the most compared to the previous week was systems for wage increases, making it a week where the center of gravity shifted from a single focus on regional revitalization to combining multiple themes.
April, the start of the fiscal year, is when local governments begin public offerings for the new fiscal year. With a background where themes linked to national policy guidelines such as wage increases and disaster response expand simultaneously, it is structurally a week where candidates broaden even for those who have been searching mainly around regional revitalization if they combine related themes.