ANALYSES ON LOCATION OF DRUGSTORES IN ‘FOOD DESERTS’ IN JAPANESE LOCAL AREAS

Abstract

In local living-spheres, due to the withdrawal and shutdowns of local stores, Food Deserts (FDs), where the purchase of perishables is difficult for the residents is expanding, and healthy life of residents is endangered. Recently, drugstores handling perishables start locating non-urban areas expected to locate in FDs for sustainable healthy life of the residents. This study analyses the location possibility of drugstores in FDs of eastern area of Tottori prefecture, and discuss the influence to the decrease in FDs. Especially, proposed method clarified the degree and areas of FDs. Also, the possible new location of drugstores that effectively reduce the FDs were indicated.