## Creating Regional Power and Regional Revitalization

In order to form active local societies and establish local power, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, various actors in each region collaborate and work together to utilize local resources to the greatest extent possible and to provide assistance so that those actors can implement a range of efforts that boost the strength of each region.

## Promotion of a “Green Decentralization Reform”

Cooperation and collaborations between local governments, residents, NPOs, etc. on the creation of a framework that allows for utilizing each region's resources (rich natural environment, reusable clean energy, safe and affluent foodstuffs, historical and cultural heritage, financial resources) to the maximum extent possible, which will lead to transforming the “centrally concentrated social structure where human resources and funds are outfluxed from different regions” to a “structure of regional sovereignty that boosts the region’s ability to be self-sustainable and produce wealth.”

FY2009 Exploratory Project

## ○Survey and advanced verification of reusable clean energy resource storage levels in prefectures and municipalities

FY2010 Exploratory Project

### ○Research regarding systematic response to promoting reforms, etc. ○Surveys and research in municipalities that became the first to agree to the reforms and to carry out comprehensive and multifaceted efforts

## [1] What are “green decentralization reforms”?

Japan’s various regions face stringent financial restrictions due to falling birth rates, the aging population, and the decline in overall population. Thus, there is a strong need for promoting reforms that will establish regional power, make shifts to low-carbon societies, etc.

Green decentralization reforms aim to create a framework so that each region can assess and make the most of their forests, villages, and oceans, water and other rich resources that they generate, the food and energy created using those resources, as well as historical and cultural assets. These reforms will then use these frameworks to revitalize regions, rebuild “bonds,” and generate a shift from a “centrally concentrated social structure where human resources and funds are outfluxed from different regions” to a “structure of regional sovereignty that boosts the region’s ability to be self-sustainable and produce wealth”.

## [2] Local power reforms and green decentralization reforms

These reforms aim to revise obligations and limits, delegate authority to lower-tier local government, abolish contributions to projects directly overseen by the government, make subsidies into lump-sum grants, abolish the principle of outpost agencies, and create a legal structure for discussions that take place between the national and local governments in order to establish local power. These reforms will dramatically boost the authority and responsibility of local governments.

In this way, in accordance with making administrative and financial functions into local functions, green decentralization reforms change the lives of residents and the regional economy into a structure where regions can effectively utilize human resources, food, energy, and other resources to the greatest extent possible. This allows for reforming the very trends of persons, goods, money, and energy and creating a social system that boosts the ability of regions to be self-sustainable and generate wealth.

## Promotion of the Greater Independence Settlement Area Concept

Mutually divide the roles of the urban functions of “central cities” and the environment, history, culture, food production, etc. functions of “peripheral towns and villages” and form places for settlement

The Outline for Promoting the Greater Independence Settlement Area Concept and assistance measures for independent settlement areas were completed and released nationwide in April 2009. As of November 2009, 36 local governments have declared themselves as central cities, agreements have been concluded with 58 local governments (10 regions), and policies have been drafted with two local governments (two regions).

### Assistance for Making Disadvantaged Areas (under-populated, etc.) Independent and Active

Recognizing the fact that “Japan itself has its roots in under-populated areas”, national territory shall be preserved, production functions shall be protected, and communities that are comfortable to live in shall be rebuilt.

Promotion of new depopulation countermeasures

Secure resources for medical, nursing care, and living

Rebuild settlements using “settlement assistance personnel”

Resolve the digital divide