I) The location of secondary industries in the inland Tohoku area has gradually come into fashion in recent years. Even in the northern Tohoku area (i.e. Aomori, Akita and Iwate Prefectures), which has been heavily dependent on agriculture, the tempo of industrialization is quickening.
II) Mechanical industries play a vital role in the industrialization of inland regions. The production of machinery in the Tohoku has increased in value by 17.5 times between 1955 and 1969. The Tohoku manufacturers' share in the national market of machinery, therefore, has increased since 1960, and this trend is expected to go on.
III) What are the major motives for the location of these mechanical industries in the Tohoku? Replies to our questionnaire e revealed that difficulties in procuring additional land and labor made it necessary for the metropolitan enterprises to seek new places for expanded production. Under these circumstances, the Tohoku was chosen due to the following advantages:
a) Land price, which is soaring on a nation-wide basis, is relatively cheap, and procuring broad-enough sites for industrial purposes is rather easy.
b) Since residents of the Tohoku have been suffering from lack of employment, particularly in wintertime, there exists an abundant labor force which is cheap, persevering and industrious.
c) Truck transportation on highways between the Tohoku and the Tokyo Metropolitan Area is improving.
d) The local governments in the Tohoku have the policy of enouraging industry to locate in their area and extend special favors toward the incoming industries.
IV) Further study of individual cases has drawn us to the following conclusions:
a) The above mentioned advantages for the incoming enterprises as to land and labor have undoubtedly been decreasing, since quite a few existing and incoming enterprises of secondary as well as tertiary industries have been attracted by these resoruces.
b) On the other hand, construction of super-highways and the future operation of bullet trains between the Tohoku and Tokyo will drastically reduce the time for transprotation of personnel, raw materials, and finished goods. This, together with the construction of industrial parks, which have been planned and prepared by the central government as well as local governments based on such policies as the industrialization of agricultural zones and the relocation of metropolitan industries, will greatly improve the present conditions of industrial location in the Tohoku.
V) Mechanical industries in the Tohoku, though handicapped by low technical level, lack of affiliated industries, the freezing climate and heavy snowfalls in winter, etc., will continue to advance, and will be one of the leading forces for the regional growth of the Tohoku area.
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