The possibilities and prospects of creating a new domain of policy science by expanding human geography are reviewed. Many socioeconomic studies in geography refer to an important role of policy, which often paves the path of development or formation of a region. However, regional policy itself is not yet recognized as a main branch of human geography, at least by the Association of Japanese Geographers.
In Japan's academic society, the status of geography is not necessarily very high. One of the reasons for this is the lack of theoretical and technological contributions by geographers to national or regional planning in both the public and private sectors. To gain higher social status as an applied social science, geography should move away from the stage of an explanatory science dealing with current regional conditions, and offer both more precise theories and higher applicable skills making use of knowledge accumulated in advanced quantitative geography.

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The national land policy of Japan was established by the National Land Development Act in 1950, which aimed at suitable land use, development, and preservation of national land. The national land policy has changed twice since then: first, from agricultural to industrial development; and second, after the oil crises, from industrial development to a better living environment.
We are now facing a third change brought about by the changing national economy as well as people's wants, and these new trends will inevitably change the national land policy from a simple development-oriented policy to a quality of life-oriented one. Three major background factors in this change are: (1) globalization with economic development and growth in Asian economies; (2) a decreasing and aging population with slower economic growth; and (3) increasing concern for environ-mental problems.
Therefore the following issues should be taken into account when formulating the new national land policy: (1) development of decentralized multiple core cities outside the Tokyo metropolitan area; (2) removal of the national capital functions from Tokyo; (3) development of a belt zone along the main transport corridor and formation of a network of non-metropolitan cities; (4) security against natural disasters; and (5) transformation to an “open society.”
For decision making, the following points should be discussed: (1) evaluation of the decision-making system; (2) issues related to administration to implement these policies; and (3) relations between the national land policy and regional development.
Geographers should express their opinions on these new policies, and applied geography should address the decision-making process of national and regional policies from a future-oriented view-point.

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Hokkaido has enjoyed favorable conditions in terms of postwar regional development compared with other regions. The national government set up the Hokkaido Development Agency, which has been responsible for implementing development projects with high subsidies. This study discusses the changing characteristics and resulting problems of the development plans in regard to the indus-trial and spatial structure in Hokkaido, which has relied heavily on development projects along with primary industry.
Six development plans have been implemented since 1952, with changing policyaims, from new set-tlements and food supply to contribute to the national economy in the early stage to improvement and autonomous development of the fragile regional economy in the later stages, resulting in the pro-motion of manufacturing, in particular the machinery industry, which was previously almost non-existed in Hokkaido.
A large-scale industrial project in East Tomakomai and a new dairy farming project in the Konsen area, which started in the 1960s as national projects, nearly failed after the oil crises in the 1970s. More-over, regions depending on primary and coal mining industries have been seriously affected and stag-nated by the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone as well as imported agricultural products and coal. The changing national industrial structure and foreign exchange rates have unfavorably affected the ability of Hokkaido to attract industry from the mainland. In contrast, Sapporo, as the prefectural capital, now has some 30% of the population of Hokkaido, with a concentration of many branch offices of leading companies.
A recent trend toward devolutional reform of the national government requires a review of develop-ment investment in Hokkaido. Regional development plans in the foreseeable future should consider re-gional characteristics and require scientific evaluation. Geographers are expected to contribute by iden-tifying regional characteristics and applying regional research to evaluate development plans, and hence enhance the role of geography in regional development.

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Postwar regional development in the Tohoku region began in 1952 as a part of specially designated areas under the Comprehensive Development Act of 1952, which aimed at conservation of national land, natural disaster prevention, and natural resource development. The act was modeled on the US Tennessee Valley Authority scheme, with the main focus on the construction of multipurpose dams. This was followed by the Tohoku Development Plan in 1958, with subsequent revisions which have contributed to strengthening of the economic/industrial base as well as to improving living condi-tions and increasing regional income.
Regional development plans in the Tohoku region in the foreseeable future should be more welfare/local culture-oriented rather than economic development-oriented.

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Regional development issues in the Nagoya region (the Nagoya metropolitan area in a wide sense), which is often called Chukyo (literally meaning a central capital between Kyoto and Tokyo) or Chubu (central Japan), are discussed from the viewpoint of regional planning. It was not until the early 1960s that Chukyo or Chubu was formally considered as a regional planning unit.
The Chubu Development Act of 1966 and the related development plan in 1968 covering the Nagoya as well as the Hokuriku and eastern Kinki regions, established the Training Center of the United Nations for Regional Development Planning and Research (today's U. N. C. R. D) in Nagoya to solve various problems such as regional disparity, overpopulation in urban centers, and depopula-tion in rural areas. Another important feature of this plan was its emphasis on the need to serve the urban population.
Major national infrastructure projects, including superhighways, were constructed under a series of comprehensive national development plans. These resulted in the creation of a wider Nagoya urban planning area that includes 15 surrounding municipalities. Aichi prefecture formulated the Third Regional Plan in 1970, which emphasized quality of life. This concept was recognized by the Yahagi River Basin Research Association, which aimed to cover the environment of the western Mikawa, a heavily industrialized area comprising two major cities, Toyota and Okazaki. This area was included in the Fourth Regional Plan, and the Yahagi New Life City Plan for Techno Area was formulated in 1983.
The Nagoya region is the crossroads of Japan with its historical background of spontaneous indus-trial development. It is now expected to incorporate environmental and welfare issues into its regional planning and to constract its global mega-infrastructare and hosting environment for interna-tional collaboration.

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This study discusses the Remote Islands Development Act (1953) as well as the population, indus-trial structure, and administrative areas of designated remote islands in Japan. The Remote Islands Development Act, as one of the acts for specialized regional development, designated almost all remote islands after several revisions, and precisely formulated policies for transportation, industrial promotion, land preservation, and the welfare of island residents.
Changes such as depopulation, aging, specialization in the fishing and resort industry, and mergers of municipalities are varied, reflecting population size, major industries, accessibility to larger cities, the intention of residents to live in the islands, and administrative dependence on other islands or the mainland.
This paper argues that a more appropriate development policy is required to cope with recent changes in the remote islands.

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