Abstract
Currently, urban regeneration projects are progressed at the regional cities, and a number of these cities have multi-core structure including new business-core as a sub-centre. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effectiveness and problems of sub-centre constructions in the regional cities. The paper firstly reviews sub-centre policies under the master plans in Sapporo, Sendai, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, followed by the discussion of population, retail scores and way of transportation, based on the principle ingredients analysis. As a consequence, the differences of functions between centre and sub-centre must be clarified, based on the size of the region and the functions of sub-centre should be clearly drawn up at the local plan levels. Further of this, local authorities must consider following two things for sub-centre development: tax benefit system to private sectors, out of town shopping control.
