Contributions of Geography to Regional Policies in Japan

Abstract

In this paper, looking back at the separate histories of national land policy, industrial location policy, and regional innovation policy in Japan, the author analyzes the contributions to and problems of geography in those regional policies. From the viewpoint of geographical studies, it is obvious that the Japanese National Land Policy had its origin in the prewar period and shows both sides of continuity and noncontinuity from the prewar to postwar periods. As an alternative idea of the national land axis, proposals of regional cooperation corridors by geographers were important to the 5th Comprehensive National Development Plan “Grand Design for the 21st Century” in 1998. The recent theme is how to construct local living areas with digital technology during population decline. Under the industrial location policy, the main target has shifted from the local dispersion of factories to the creation of industrial agglomerations since the start of the 21st century. What has become a topic of discussion is whether the central government or local governments should take the initiative for the development of such industrial agglomerations and how to consider the meaning of inclusive growth as a new viewpoint for regional economic policy. On the other hand, it is necessary to recognize the importance of spatial aspects in the innovation policy considering two viewpoints, not only the spatial flow of knowledge but also technological trajectory adherence. The key message of the Association of Japanese Geographers President’s lecture is, “Please act positively, with confidence, about the social value of geography.”