A Basic Survey of the Living Conditions of the Islands in Seto Inland Sea (Part 1)

General Aspect of the Research and of the Places Investigated

Abstract

We investigated six islands that will be under the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge-Onomichi-Imabari route. We are doing this study to improve the living conditions and to promote the social welfare of the district.
As the first step in our study we found out the regional characteristics before the bridge is constructed.
1) Composition of Income by Industry : The income of the people in Hiroshima prefecture zone is mainly that of secondary industry. Almost half of that of the people in Ehime prefecture zone is from tertiary industry.
2) We set up “environmental indicators.”
“Environmental indicators” means measures for evaluation of living conditions.
Economic indicators are high in Hiroshima prefecture zone including Hakata-cho. Social indicators are high in Ehime prefecture zone except Hakata-cho.
3) Principal towns where town offices situate show influence against surrounding towns and play an important role in the each district, but they are under the control of bigger cities.