2026 Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 205-228
The purpose of this paper is to review the discussions over the past 10 years regarding regional revitalization and give an overview of thees discussions from the perspectives of demographic issues, regional policy, and machizukuri (community development).
Regarding demographic issues, the situation and factors of a low birth rate and population concentration in Tokyo were analyzed, and methods and results of policies to combat the declining birthrate and to disperse the population were examined. It then became clear that a series of policies had created a race to attract populations among municipalities, and the need for a social plan that takes into account the declining population has been raised.
From the perspective of regional policy, the impacts of regional revitalization policies, which emphasize the method of selection and concentration, on regional core cities and disadvantaged areas, and the national and regional structures we should aim for have been discussed. In addition, it has been reported that growth strategy, policy evaluation and the method of selection and concentration have side effects such as re-centralization and hindering self-determination in regional areas, and decentralization and citizen participation have been sought.
Finally, from the perspective of machizukuri, it has been reported that regional revitalization policies focus on machizukuri and are integrated with it so that regional revitalization has become synonymous with machizukuri. Based on this, discussions have been held on how to address issues such as utilizing local resources, valuing the region, and securing and developing leaders. The field of geography will need to not only analyze and propose regional policies as it has done in the past, but also conduct more practical research and provide accompanying support for the “post-regional revitalization” era.
https://ror.org/0059h1f24 