Journal of the Institute for Asian Studies and Regional Collaboration Akita International University
Online ISSN : 2433-5657
Print ISSN : 2189-5554
ISSN-L : 2189-5554
Volume 6
Displaying 1-4 of 4 articles from this issue
  • Yoshitaka KUMAGAI
    2018 Volume 6 Pages 1-7
    Published: 2018
    Released on J-STAGE: September 27, 2018
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    In Japan, there are 43 geoparks (as of October 2017) registered by the Japan Geopark Network. Municipalities where geoparks are located have used various methods to enhance the communities’ awareness of the value of local resources and to promote geotourism, thereby revitalizing those communities. Neither legal endorsement nor the central government’s support are available for geoparks. However, 25 geoparks are located within national parks. These geoparks are managed under the rules and regulations of the National Park System, which share common terms and objectives with the rules and regulations of geoparks. These commonalities imply that municipalities and the National Park System have been collaborating favorably. The current status of geoparks and national parks, and the possibilities and challenges for geoparks located in national parks, is discussed in this article.
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  • Tetsuya TOYODA
    2018 Volume 6 Pages 9-16
    Published: 2018
    Released on J-STAGE: September 27, 2018
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    International immigration and domestic immigration are legally different, but they both result in immigrants joining existing communities. Ironically, the Japanese government has a more positive attitude about accepting foreign students into Japanese universities than do the local governments about accepting non-local students into their universities. In a time of important demographic changes in Japan, both at national and local levels, whether immigrants can become full members of existing communities will emerge as an important question related to community identity.
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  • Yutaka TAKEMURA
    2018 Volume 6 Pages 17-25
    Published: 2018
    Released on J-STAGE: September 27, 2018
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    In October 2017, the 19th Russo-Japanese summit meeting was held. In response to a series of state programs for the development of the Far East, the Japanese government offered eight items of economic cooperation with Russia to forward negotiations on the peace treaty between Japan and Russia. In September 2017, Japan and Russia agreed on five items in the Joint Economic Activities business plan for four islands of the “northern territories,” proposed by President Putin during his visit to Japan. However, as Russo-Japanese trading still heavily relies on a segment of energy and resources, the trade turnover has substantially decreased over the last three years (2014 to 2016) due to the declined market price of energy. Japan and Russia should endeavor to allow not only big businesses but also local companies or medium and small businesses, including entrepreneurs, to develop sustainable Japan-Russia business relations. Newcomers would create new businesses, which could start a structural reform of the current trade model and eventually help to develop Japan-Russia relations.
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  • Kenro NAGOSHI
    2018 Volume 6 Pages 27-36
    Published: 2018
    Released on J-STAGE: September 27, 2018
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    This is the third part of my research paper on Akita-Inu, followed by “The Internationalization Strategy of Akita-Inu,” published in the first issue of this journal and “How Akita Should Generate Brand Power of Akita-Inu,” published in the third issue of this journal. With the increasing popularity of Akita-Inu, a natural national treasure of Japan, the Akita local government and the city government of Odate, the birthplace of the famous “Hachi,” plotted out new programs to attract national and international tourists. The most remarkable project among them is Hachi-ko Station, modeled on the pre-war Shibuya Station (where Hachi waited for its past owner), which will be open in the spring of 2019 in Odate City. Akiho, the preservation society of Akita-Inu, is considering another project under the new leader, Mr. Endo, who is a congressman. This article analyzes the expanding popularity of Akita-Inu and the so-called boomerang effect of Akita. It also makes recommendations to Akita Prefecture and Odate City to activate an Akita-Inu strategy.
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