(7) Designated areas under rural promotion acts

Terminology	Definition
“Designated rural areas” under the Act for the Promotion of Infrastructure Development for Vitalization of Agriculture and Forestry in Designated Rural Areas	(Designated rural areas meet any of the first, second and third conditions, and the fourth one below) 1 Paddies on slopes with a gradient of one-20th or more account for 50% or more of the total paddy area that captures 33% or more of the total cultivated land. 2 Upland fields on slopes with a gradient of 15 degrees or more account for 50% or more of the total upland field area that captures 33% or more of the total cultivated land. 3 The ratio of forest and grazing land is 75% or more. 4 Agricultural and forested areas account for 81% or more of the total land area, or persons engaged in agriculture or forestry account for 10% or more of the population aged 15 or more, etc.
“Developing mountain villages” under the Mountain Villages Development Act	○ The ratio of forest and grazing land is 75% or more (1960 forestry census). ○ Population density is 1.16 persons per hectare or less (1960 forestry census), etc.
“Underpopulated areas” under the Act on Special Measures for Promotion for Independence for Underpopulated Areas	Underpopulated areas meet any of the first to three conditions below: 1 Meeting (1) and (2) (1) Population requirement: Any of the following is met 1) Population decline from 1960 to 1995 was 30% or more. 2) Population decline from 1960 to 1995 was 25% or more and the ratio of elderly people (aged 65 or more) in 1995 was 24% or more. 3) Population decline from 1960 to 1995 was 25% or more and the ratio of young people (aged between 15 and 29) in 1995 was 15% or less. 4) Population decline from 1970 to 1995 was 19% or more. In cases 1), 2) and 3), however, communities with a population decline of 10% or more over 25 years from 1970 to 1995 are excluded. (2) Financial capability requirement: The three-year average financial capability index between FY1996 and FY1998 was 0.42 or less, and income from public racing was 1.3 billion yen or less. 2 Meeting (1) and (2) (1) Population requirement: Meeting any of the conditions below: 1) Population decline from 1960 to 2005 was 33% or more. 2) Population decline from 1960 to 2005 was 28% or more and the ratio of elderly people (aged 65 or more) in 2005 was 29% or more. 3) Population decline from 1960 to 2005 was 28% or more and the ratio of young people (aged between 15 and 29) in 2005 was 14% or less. 4) Population decline from 1980 to 2005 was 17% or more. In cases 1), 2) and 3), however, communities with a population decline of 10% or more over 25 years from 1980 to 2005 are excluded. (2) Financial capability requirement: The three-year average financial capability index between FY2006 and FY2008 was 0.56 or less, and income from public racing was 2.0 billion yen or less. 3 Meeting (1) and (2) (1) Population requirement: Meeting any of the conditions below: 1) Population decline from 1965 to 2010 was 33% or more. 2) Population decline from 1965 to 2010 was 28% or more and the ratio of elderly people (aged 65 or more) in 2010 was 32% or more. 3) Population decline from 1965 to 2010 was 28% or more and the ratio of young people (aged between 15 and 29) in 2010 was 12% or less. 4) Population decline from 1985 to 2010 was 19% or more. In cases 1), 2) and 3), however, communities with a population decline of 10% or more over 25 years from 1985 to 2010 are excluded. (2) Financial capability requirement: The three-year average financial capability index between FY2010 and FY2012 was 0.49 or less, and income from public racing was 4.0 billion yen or less.
“Peninsula promotion measures implementation area” under the Peninsula Promotion Act	○ An area that is surrounded by sea in three directions, has lagged behind other areas in developing industrial infrastructure and a living environment due to less flatland, poor water resources and other constraints on national land resources use, covers two or more municipalities and has certain social and economic sizes.
“Remote island development measures implementation area” under the Remote Islands Development Act	○ A remote island area where measures are recognized as required to promote the independent development of a remote island playing key roles in maintaining Japan’s territory and exclusive economic zone, using marine resources and conserving natural environments and to stabilize livelihoods for island residents and improve their welfare.