globalization induced by international labor division, the importance of air transportation with excellent speed is increasing. The enhancement of airport functionality is being carried out through expanding freight aprons.

## 2 ) Port development

In recent years, the expansion in the size of ships for bulk freight $ ^{1} $ transportation, the increase of high functional needs for logistics and the increase in coastal commercial lands are continuing. Therefore, to comprehensively develop multi-purpose international terminals for enabling large ships to pull into shore, formulation of “coastal industrial areas,” including increasing the transportation efficiency of bulk freight, is being promoted. By conducting these measures, the improvement of port functions according to enterprise needs and commercial land promotion are being pushed forward.

## 3 ) Railway development

The trunk railway network laid throughout the country, as the main artery of passenger/freight transportation, promotes inter-regional exchange, encourages industrial land development, enables regional economic revitalization and gives vitality to regional life. In particular, railway freight transportation has served an important function in the transportation of industrial supplies supporting regional economy. In recent years, the rail service has been selected as the transportation method for the local development of large-scale factories and accomplishes this function in commercial land in the regions.

## 4 ) Road development

From the viewpoint of enhancing logistics efficiency and transportation convenience, over 80% of newly constructed factories are located within 10 km from a highway interchange. At the same time as reinforcing international competitiveness by realizing speedy and smooth logistics, the development of trunk road networks consisting of high standard highways and regional high standard roads is continuing with the aim of regional independence and industry promotion.

(5) Promotion of various businesses and systems that have a close relationship with regions

## 1 ) Road Station

A “Road Station” is a facility located along the road with three functions, which are “Rest” such as car parks and restrooms, “Information Communication” with road and local information, and “Regional Cooperation” that promotes the exchange between the regions and road users, and among regions themselves. Up to March 2010, 926 spots were registered. Moreover, the additional functions of recovery activities or evacuation spots during disaster and disaster prevention spots are being implemented.

## 2 ) Promotion of river-area development

Toward the municipality project on uplifting regional attractiveness by utilizing rivers and riverside areas as the core of regional development/tourism, support and promotion from hard aspects such as development of unifying riversides spaces with regions, and soft aspects such as regulation alleviation, are being carried out.

3) River management based on regional characteristics by participation of local residents

By entrusting people who possess professional knowledge and have enthusiasm for developing beautiful rivers as river environment conservation monitors, conservation/creation works, well-ordered use and the activities of popularization and education are carefully being carried out. Furthermore, by entrusting people who often come into contact with rivers and are concerned about river protection as river protection monitors, efforts are made on the collection of river management information, and popularization and enlightenment of river protection attitudes including discovery of illegal rubbish disposal in rivers and abnormality of river facilities.

Moreover, dry riverbeds are opened as flowerbeds for the local residents and volunteer groups of river cleaning and mowing. Also, the “Love-river System” for the formation of a deep-rooted and friendly riverside space in the region is being promoted. In addition, by forming the agreement of citizen participation river management with local citizens, the residents/autonomies and river administrators are cooperating to perform river management (such as cleaning and mowing) in specified river areas.

## 4 ) Support for measures in coastal areas that utilize regional characteristics

For the purpose of invigorating coastal usage and uplifting their attractiveness as a tourism resource, numerous coastal areas over a wide area were targeted for enabling the formulation of a working plan for the cooperation of various parties and the development of coastal conservation facilities and convenient facilities for coastal users, and expansion of the coastal environment development project in FY 2008 was promoted.