Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## Chapter 1: Current situations and problems related to daily life

## (The majority of people are content with their daily life, but they feel less secure about their future)

An MLIT survey on attitudes on community-based lifestyles and surrounding living conditions revealed that nearly 60% of people surveyed found their present living conditions satisfactory or relatively satisfactory (hereinafter also referred to as “satisfactory”). At the same time, more than 60% of the surveyed said that they “feel insecure” or “relatively insecure” about their future.

## Satisfaction with current lifestyle and concern about the future

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Q: How concerned are you about the future of your lifestyle and living environment?

The survey on attitudes addressed people’s satisfaction with various environmental factors in daily life, and remarkable differences in satisfaction were found in a number of issues, including employment opportunities and workplaces, community-based economic climate, barrier-free environments in home town, facilities and services for nursing care and welfare, facilities and services for raising children, as well as vitality of home town. Facing the recent difficult socioeconomic situations, people seem to feel insecure about their future, partly due to public recognition of the lack of present and future economic bases, of adequate support for the elderly and people with disabilities and vitality of home town.

People have mixed feelings toward their daily life, with satisfaction in their present lifestyles and much concerns about future prospects. In addition, viewpoints vary according to generations.

Sections below analyze the current situations, highlighting our ways of living in “Living in home town,” “Being active in society” and “Traveling from one place to another” to discuss what we think about our daily life and what we need in our daily life.
## (1) Living in home town

## Understanding needs of people living in home town

## (Living environments in home town)

We investigated people’s attitudes on various factors that support living, by asking them whether they found each factor important and whether they were satisfied with the each factor.

The people surveyed found the level of importance in items relevant to basic environments surrounding their residences, including the “natural environment and environment conservation” and improvement of streetscapes and landscapes. They also found importance in items relevant to their safety and security, such as “public security and anti-crime measures” and “preparedness against natural disasters,”. In addition, what they considered as things of high importance includes daily necessities, including “convenience of everyday shopping,” “medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics,” and “convenience of public transport,” “improvement and development of residential roads and arterial roads” and “safe space for pedestrians and bicycles.”

Meanwhile less than 50% of the surveyed voiced their satisfaction with the majority of issues surveyed.

## Level of importance and level of satisfaction with each environmental factor in home town

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
## (Level of importance and satisfaction by city size)

When focusing on the level of importance and satisfaction by city size, results in urban areas and those in rural areas indicated the same tendency in many items. Yet many respondents in rural areas voiced their complaints concerning services relevant to convenience in everyday lives, such as convenience of everyday shopping and medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics.

## (Level of importance and satisfaction for the elderly and households with small children)

What holds importance for each person varies with her/his age and family structure, for example whether she/he is now raising children or not.

The elderly voiced the importance, in particular, of “medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics,” barrier-free environments in a local community, and facilities and services for nursing care and welfare, which are increasingly essential as the population grows older.

For families raising small children are important items, such as facilities and services for raising children, including the improvement of kids' play areas and nursery schools, and school education opportunities in a local community.

It is important to adequately understand the needs of those who tend to feel inconvenience in their daily life.

## (Their awareness concerning their residences)

Regarding functions and performances of housing, only 20 to less than 40% of the surveyed felt assured of the safety of their housing against earthquakes, typhoons and floods, and crime.

Although there are increased needs for security, only slightly more than 20% of the surveyed across all generations felt that measures prepared for aging, including barrier-free environments, which have become increasingly important, were sufficiently ensured. This suggests the lack of sufficient measures prepared for an aging society.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
## (Attitudes toward living)

Major motivations for changing one’s home includes the need for user-friendly housing and environments for the elderly, the need for “improving the quality of housing,” and the need “for ensuring convenience in everyday lives.” This suggests that people have the intention to proactively improve their housing environments, rather than the tendency to change their homes only when it is necessary.

## ○ Current situations and problems related to housing (Please refer to Chapter 2, (1)(a), (2)(a) and (4)) (Housing stock)

As of 2003, housing stock stood at approximately 54 million, while the total number of households was approximately 47 million. This suggests an adequate housing stock in terms of quantity. While the average floor area per unit of housing is $ 95 \, m^{2} $ , equivalent to that of European counterparts, the average floor area of a privately owned house is $ 124 \, m^{2} $ while that of a rental dwelling is relatively small, only $ 46 \, m^{2} $ .

Size of housing

## (Housing performance)

As much as 25% of existing houses lack sufficient quake resistance. In addition, only 5.4% of housing stock consists of sophisticated barrier-free homes, which have no uneven surfaces on the floor, hallways, spacious enough for wheelchair access, and two or more handrails per home. Furthermore, energy-efficient housing is gradually on the rise in newly constructed homes.

It is necessary to address aging homes, for example, by renovating or reconstructing old homes. In particular, as many as 730,000 condominium apartments were 30 years old or older as of the end of 2008, and the number will rapidly increase to 2 million by the end of 2020.
Average age of homes demolished

Note: Estimated life span until demolition for demolished houses

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Housing markets

Number of homes newly constructed

Ratio of the number of existing residences in the marketplace among the total number of houses in the market

Note1: Sources for “the number of homes newly constructed”: Data as of 2003 for Japan, data as of 2004 for the United States and the United Kingdom, and data as of 2005 for France

Note2: Sources for “the number of existing residences in the marketplace”: Data as of 2003 for Japan, data as of 2004 for the United States and the United Kingdom, and data as of 2000 for France

Japan : “Statistics on new housing starts,” Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, 2003; and estimations by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, based on “Housing and Real Estate Survey,” Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 2003

U.S.: “Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 2006”

U.K.: : Ministry of Home Affairs regional community website (http://www.communities.gov.uk/)

France : Ministry of Maritime Transport and Tourism Facilities website (http://www.equipement.gouv.fr/)

## (Difficulties in securing housing)

Publicly-operated housing is provided to low-wage earners who find it difficult to secure housing. However, the applicants-to-homes ratio is extremely high, particularly in urban areas. For example, the ratio stands at 34.3:1 in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, and the ratio has been increasing over the last ten years. In particular, due to recent economic difficulties caused by employment uncertainty, the need for lower-priced housing has become increasingly urgent. Accordingly, it is necessary to address this need together with employment policies.

On the other hand, when it comes to private rental housing, sometimes elderly would-be tenants are turned away, because landlords fear that the elderly tend to be late in paying rent.

To secure housing forms the very foundation of our daily life, and it is necessary to address issues concerning housing, from the perspective of extending safety nets to those in a precarious position.

Public housing applicants-to-vacancies ratio

Note: Areas around Tokyo : Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba and Ibaraki

Areas around Osaka : Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara

Areas around Nagoya: Nagoya and Mie

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Current situations and problems related to environments surrounding Japanese housing (Please refer to Chapter 2, (1) (a) and (b), (3)(a) and (5)(c))

## (Green spaces, watersides and streetscapes)

Green spaces, including farmlands and forest areas, in the Tokyo metropolitan area and three neighboring prefectures has been on the decline, while at the same time, since 1965, city parks have been on the rise. City parks play an important role in forming a healthy urban environment, yet there are concerns about playground accidents associated with playground equipment, and it is necessary to improve city parks so that children can play there more safely.

The area of watersides has been on the decline due to recent urbanization, which sometimes covers water surfaces such as rivers or other water passages, and depletes sources of spring water. Approximately 40%

Note: The left axis represents farmlands and forest areas, and the right axis represents scity parks.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

of first-grade rivers are considered inaccessible or difficult to access. It is necessary to improve and develop waterside spaces so that people can more easily enjoy such areas in rapport with nature. To enhance streetscapes, it is still necessary to create better townscapes by regulating outdoor advertising.

## Area of watersides diminished with modernization, restored and created

Source: Graduate School of Engineering and Technology, the University of Tokyo, specializing in urban engineering

## (Human relationships in home town)

Human relationships in home town are important factors for daily life. However, according to the survey on attitudes, the satisfaction index concerning communities and human relationships is as low as 20%. In fact, an increasing number of people are less likely to get along well with their neighbors, as communications between neighbors have declined. To support living within a local society, it is necessary to maintain and restore local communities.
## (Natural disasters)

We have experienced a number of floods because of typhoons and heavy rains, and in recent years, there have been indications that disaster risks are on the rise due to global warming. There is concern that large-scale floods due to typhoons will be more frequent, and recently urban areas have often experienced floods, including overflows of neighboring urban rivers and submersion of low land due to concentrated heavy rainfall and local heavy rain.

In addition, the elderly are more likely to suffer from flood damage, and accordingly, new measures are required, with an increasing number of people requiring special care and help in case of a disaster, as our society is increasingly and rapidly aging.

Annual number of occurrences of strong rain with rainfall of 50mm or more per hour

Note: The number of occurrences for every 1000 stations of Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMeDAS). The total number of AMeDAS stations is around 1,300 as of 2008.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

## (Public security and order, and crime prevention)

Even in peace time, the risk of being a victim of a crime is everywhere. Many consider that public security and order in Japan have been slipping in the last decade. According to a public opinion poll on public security and order, people feel uncertain about everyday places, such as streets and parks. In addition to housing with enhanced crime-prevention features, it is necessary to realize town development that attaches importance to the safety of urban environments, by eliminating blind spots in urban areas, as far as possible.

## (2) Being active in society

## Understanding the needs of people who are being active in society

We will discuss a variety of people’s daily activities, by classifying them into running errands, working, and enjoying leisure time.

## (What people need and what people complain about concerning their errands)

Every day, people go on errands: shopping, visiting city halls, post offices or banks, and seeing doctors. According to the responses, it seems to be ideal to “go on errands or shop at nearest possible places” or at “large-scale supermarkets or shopping malls,” and to “finish all errands at once together with shopping.” This indicates that they attach importance to convenience in finishing their errands.

We found the same tendency concerning the above issue both in urban areas and rural areas.

People’s attitudes toward running errands

Q: Regarding everyday errands, including shopping, visiting city hall, post offices or banks, or seeing doctors, do you agree with the following statements?

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
On the other hand, mainly in rural areas, the people surveyed complained about the inconvenience and the lack of variety in goods, for example, by saying it is “impossible to use one-stop shopping,” “impossible to finish all errands at once,” and there is a “limited selection of goods at stores.” They also complained about the lack of accessibility, saying that it is necessary to go a long way when doing errands, and that access by public transport is difficult.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
## (What people need and what people complain about concerning working)

There are more people who want to give priority to their own free time, their children, nursing care, and families and living environments and living conditions over their jobs than those who always give priority to their jobs. This tendency is particularly strong among younger generations.

Regarding what people complained about concerning their jobs, an increasing number of the people surveyed said that there are few employment opportunities in their neighborhoods, and limited options for seeking jobs and workplaces they like. In particular, in small municipalities, more than 40% of those surveyed voiced such complaints. Clearly employment is a crucial issue. $ ^{1} $ In addition, they also complained that they cannot spend enough time for themselves and their families because of long work hours.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
## (What people need and what people complain about concerning their leisure time)

When asked about how they liked to spend their leisure time, many of the people surveyed expressed the need to reduce the burdens of everyday life, through actions including: getting rest and relieving fatigue, and spending time at some comfortable places; doing something good for health and recreation; and refreshing themselves.

Regarding what people complained about concerning their leisure time, many said they “can not financially afford to enjoy leisure time,” and “do not have enough time for leisure.” In addition, particularly in rural areas, they pointed out the lack of places, facilities or environments suitable for spending leisure time in their neighborhood, or within a distance where they can casually visit.

## Current situations and problems concerning being active in society

This section will discuss current situations concerning people’s being active in society.

## What supports people when they are running errands (Please refer to Chapter 2, (2)(b), (3)(a) and (b), and (5)(a))

(Declining city centers)

While city centers have been playing the role of the base of everyday activities, increasingly, public functions and commercial functions have been transferred from city centers to suburbs. Regarding public functions, about 30% of city halls and 70% of
Note: Organizations all over Japan were surveyed, excluding those in cabinet-order designated cities (666 organizations) Source: “Socioeconomic Trends Including Migration and Land Use,” Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2003

Note: Organizations all over Japan were surveyed, excluding those in cabinet-order designated cities (666 organizations) Source: “Socioeconomic Trends Including Migration and Land Use,” Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2003

publicly run hospitals are now in suburbs. Regarding commercial functions, particularly at municipalities with a population of less than 200,000, around 40% of the people surveyed said that the transfer from city centers to suburbs has gone far enough. It reflects the increasing development of housing in suburbs. Even the users of such functions find that the number of shops at city centers is decreasing, and popularity, vitality and attractiveness have been on the decline.

In addition, neighborhood community-based shopping malls, which people visit for everyday shopping, have been declining remarkably.

It is concern that places that have traditionally supported everyday life will decline. In order to invigorate city centers and shopping malls, there is a need to enhance the attractiveness of shopping malls as a whole, make commercial and public-welfare related functions more user-friendly by concentrating them, improve living spaces and enhance accessibility via public transport.

Note: Shopping streets all over Japan were surveyed. (Shopping District Promotion Association, Business Alliance Cooperation, and other private organizations)

Source: “Shopping Street Actual Condition Survey,” Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, 2006
## (Convenience in rural areas)

In underpopulated municipalities, an increasing number of people prefer to visit large-scale shops in suburbs. It reflects that there are fewer places that can support people’s everyday lives in their neighborhood.

It is also necessary to take into account people who have fewer choices.

Where people do their everyday shopping

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

## (Physical distribution that supports everyday activities)

According to the survey on attitudes, only a small number of people recognized the importance and the many-sided role of physical distribution. Yet our lifestyles and activities are being supported by physical distribution, which works behind the scenes. Efforts toward cutting costs and saving time in physical distribution through streamlining and acceleration as well as efforts toward higher efficiency, ensuring the security of physical distribution and reducing environmental burdens are indispensable for Japan's industrial activities and affluent lifestyles in today's communities, which are becoming globally connected. It is essential to work hard for further enhancing the functions of physical distribution. It is important to functionally enhance physical distribution.

## Awareness of physical distribution

Q: Physical distribution is the transportation of products from areas of production to customers, from factories to stores. To what extent are you aware of the meaning and details of the term “physical distribution”?

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Role of physical distribution

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
## What supports working people?

(Please refer to Chapter 2, (3) (a) and (b), (4) and (5)(a) and (b))

## (Current employment opportunities)

The number of persons in employment has been on the rise for more than 20 years, as a whole. However, this is due to an increasing number of irregular workers, and the number of regular employees has been on the decline recently. Accordingly, the position of people in employment is increasingly becoming unstable.

The job-offers-to-seekers ratio has been on the decline on a nationwide basis, due to recent economic downward trends, especially in the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions.

However, it would not be accurate to generalize that there are fewer job opportunities in rural areas. When taking into account the number of factory locations, a lot of plants have been installed in some rural areas as well as urban areas and their suburbs.

There is a close relationship between factory locations and regional peculiarity, and it is necessary to pay attention to a variety of positions where rural areas stand.

Note: Including part-timers, seasonally-adjusted for annual average

Source: “Employment Exchange Statistics,” Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Source: “Factory Location Trend Survey,” Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

## (Foundations that support regional vitality and secure job opportunities)

When selecting factory locations, businesses that plan investment in new plants now place importance first on “traffic accessibility,” and then on the “surrounding residential environment.” In fact, more than 80% of new factories are within 10 km from expressway entrances and exits. This reflects the importance of accessibility. In particular, for rural areas, tourism that makes better use of natural environments and traditional culture plays an important role in creating job opportunities. Employment deeply affects the foundation of our lifestyles, and MLIT policies are playing a significant role in improving environments in order to ensure and create job opportunities. It is important to support people’s lifestyles through MLIT polities so as to restore regional vitality and create foundations for future growth in this severe economic climate.