Abstract
This study discusses how the relationship between core enterprise groups and other regional actors influences the reformation of urban and industrial structure during the deindustrialization stage in mining and manufacturing towns. The study analyzes the process through which changes occur in the conservation and utilization of the heritage of industrial modernization by examining the changes in heritage conservation and utilization processes related to the coal industry in Omuta/Arao areas.
Conservation and utilization activity is significantly affected by the changes in regional industrial structure caused by its characteristics, location, and historical origin of the core enterprise groups, as well as regional policies regarding industrial restructuring. In particular, the changes were caused by the selling of underutilized real estate in the region by core enterprises during the economic crisis. First, only core enterprises and local authorities were the main actors in that selling, although later many regional actors such as NPOs and community residents also took part in those activities. Each actor emphasized the heritage value from the national, local, economic, and cultural viewpoints. These changes and the diversity of views on the heritage of industrial modernization and regional economic situation created diversity in the practice of conservation and utilization.
