Sports and Cultural Facilities as Social Infrastructure in Regional Cities

Focusing on Public-Private Partnerships

Abstract

Sustaining the provision of public facilities has recently emerged as one of the risks in Japanese society. This research analyses such risks from the concept of "social infrastructure" by focusing on sports/cultural facilities that are run through public-private partnerships. Analysis of PPP trends in newly built civic halls/stadiums in Japan since 2000, and a case study of 4 facilities in Hakodate, Hokkaido, have suggested that the interpretation of the PPP system differs much between facilities and individuals in charge. Risks of the PPP schemes being reduced to formality, and vulnerability to crises were also prominent in regional cities.