●Research Trends and Results

Attractions of regions as revealed by migration to ruralregions
OHASHI Sachiko, Researcher
TAKEYA Shuichi Dr. (Eng.), HeadResearch Center for Land and Construction Management, Construction Economics Division(Key Words) Attractiveness of regions, UJI turn, migration, permanent residency, consciousness survey, national landmanagement
1. Introduction
People are now migrating to rural regions, aphenomenon called the UJI Turn, and theattractiveness of rural regions is being reconsidered.
This research analyzed the attractiveness of rural
regions through a consciousness survey of people whohave migrated to rural regions, a trend which willcontinue in the future, in order to provide
infrastructure based on the values of diverse regions
and their citizens. As case studies, the survey wasconducted in Ono Town inFukushima
Prefecture,
Nichinan Town in Tottori
NichinanPrefecture, and Tarumizu
Town
日南町
日南町
CityinKagoshima
Ono
小野町
小野町
Prefecture, which haveTown
aggressively
supported
migration
andhave
Tarumizu
垂水市
垂水市
City
welcomed many migrants(Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Location ofsurveys areas
2. Values of migrants
Values which migrants consider important in theirlives were surveyed in this study. Then the results
were compared with the National Survey on Lifestyle
Preferences, which was a public opinion survey, toanalyze trends which are seen particularly among
migrants.
Figure 2 shows characteristics of migrants shownby the survey. When migrating, migrants prioritize
whether or not there is work and if it is worth-doing,
and seek an environment which provides ample
National Survey on Lifestyle
国民生活選好度調査
Preferences

Resultsof survey of migrants
移住者の調査結果
Time of studying
migration before
移住を考え始める前
started to consider migration
移住を検討している時
Now

20-29
20代30-39
30代
40-4950-59
40代50代60-69
60代
70
or older70代以上[1] Medical treatment andhealth care

現在[2] Education and culture[3] Working life[4] Holidays and leisure time
life

holidays and leisure time. The results of a study of
migrants’ destinations show that they prioritized theliving environment and felt uneasy about whether or
not they would get along well with the local people.
After migrating to the rural region, they prioritized
their family and living environment, other aspects ofthe environment surrounding them in their daily life,and human relationships with local people.
3. Attractiveness of rural regions seen in reasonsfor migration
An interview survey of people’s reasons for
migrating was conducted to analyze the attractivenessof the rural regions from the perspective of migrants.
Table 1 shows the results. Judging from theconsciousness of migrants responding to the survey,
an environment in which they can “Enjoy materialresources of the region.”, “Use the material resourcesof the region.”, and “Contribute to and to be part ofregional human resources”, are attractive features ofrural regions.
Table 1. Consciousness of Reasons for Migration
Statements during interviews• Seem to have come for the hotsprings.
• Having food nearby is attractive.
• Has long been interested in famous
natural farming methods.
• Wanted to conduct a business taking
advantage of sightseeing resources• Moved by never before experienced
delicious taste of local vegetables.
Wish to expand it as a food product.
• There is a job I want to do, so it wasnecessary• Was interested in advanced efforts inthe medical treatment and welfare
field and wanted to work here.

Characteristics
Wish to enjoy
material
resources of theregion.
Wish to usematerial
resources of theregion.
Wish tocontribute to andto be part ofregional humanresources[5] Income and consumptionlife[6] Living environment

1番目
First

1番目
First

[7] Safety and individual
protection

Second
2番目

2番目
Second[8] Family

3番目
Third

3番目
Third

[9] Regional life
[10] Fairness and financial
security

100% 80%

60%

40%20%0%0%

20%

40%

Figure 2. Values of Migrants(Range of “Important” responses)

60%

80% 100%

4. Conclusions
In the future, based on the attractiveness of ruralregions as it was revealed by the survey, efforts will
be made to enhance the attractiveness of regions andto conduct surveys of the resolution of challenges ,through links and exchanges between regions.
[Reference]

●Research Trends and Results

Ohashi et al.: A study on characteristics of values inmigration to the countryside, Collected Papers of theJapan Society of Civil Engineers, Special Edition F4,Vol. 67, No. 4, December 2011.
Ohashi et al.: Survey of attractiveness of rural regionsin the consciousness of migrants to rural regions,Collected Research Papers on Civil Engineering
Planning, Vol. 44, November 2011.