Annals of the Japan Association for Regional Economic Studies
Online ISSN : 2434-0502
Print ISSN : 1346-2709
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  • A Case Study of Asano Nenshi
    Yoko Nishida
    2025Volume 49.50 Pages 35-54
    Published: November 28, 2025
    Released on J-STAGE: February 05, 2026
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    This study explores the locational behavior of regional companies that seek to overcome locational constraints and examines how their actions influence local communities. Focusing on Asano Nenshi Co., Ltd., a regional company based in Anpachi Town, Gifu Prefecture, the research analyzes the firm’s strategic responses to changing locational conditions through the framework of locational choice, locational adaptation, and locational creation. The findings reveal that Asano Nenshi sustained its operations not through relocation, but by continuously adapting to external changes and by actively shaping its locational environment. These efforts included technological innovation, collaboration with local subcontractors, engagement in community advocacy such as flood control initiatives, and the strategic development of new production and retail sites in other regions to complement local limitations. These actions demonstrate a distinct pattern of locational behavior often seen in regional companies: prioritizing adaptation and environmental transformation before making selective locational choices. Moreover, Asano Nenshi’s locational behavior contributed not only to its own business continuity but also to the revitalization of the local community by supporting employment, preserving industrial capabilities, and improving regional infrastructure and image. This case study highlights the dynamic interaction between corporate locational strategies and regional sustainability. It suggests that a deeper understanding of locational behavior—beyond static models of optimal site selection—can contribute to a renewed theoretical framework that integrates business management and regional development perspectives.

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