Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Furthermore, the seven municipalities of Uonuma City, Minami-Uonuma City, Yuzawamachi, Tokamachi and Tsunanmachi of Niigata Prefecture, Minakamimachi of Gunma Prefecture, and Sakaemura of Nagano Prefecture that have been certified as “Snowy Coutry Sightseeing Zone” under this same plan are all serviced by high speed transportation networks such as the JR Joetsu Shinkansen (with 2 stations for boarding) and the Kanetsu Express Way. With Echigo-Yuzawa Station as the center, this area is connected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area by a travel time of little less than 2 hours, making day trips possible.

Working with the key principles of: “Development of International Tourism Through Snow”, “Formation of a New Tourism Industry Suited to the Snow Country”, “Promotion of Extended Stay Tourism” and “Promotion of People Building and Community Building”, the municipalities in this regional zone have shown a growing trend in the total number of overnight stays (Figure 2-1-81).

Figure 2-1-80

Change in the Total Number of Nights Lodged in the Niseko Sightseeing Zone

Source) Developed by MLIT from “Survey Report on the Number of Tourists to Hokkaido” by Hokkaido

Source) Developed from “Report on Implementation State of the Certified Sightseeing Zone Development Plan” by Japan Tourism Agency

Column

# The Expectations for the Opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

The building of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (connecting Nagano and Kanazawa) began with the authorization of the construction execution plan for connecting Nagano and Joetsu on March 12, 1998. Since then, construction has been moving forward to open a line that reaches Kanazawa, with authorization for the construction execution plan being given on April 25, 2001 for connecting Joetsu and Toyama, and on April 27, 2005 for connecting Toyama and Kanazawa.

As a result, on May 24, 2014, a Rail Connection Ceremony was held in the Toyama Station building, and the railway

Figure 2-1-82 New Train Car W7/E7 of the Hokuriku Shinkansen

Source) MLIT

lines between Nagano and Kanazawa was connected into one line. Then, finally on March 14, 2015, the Hokuriku Shinkansen was opened for operation all the way to Kanazawa. On the opening day, Rail Line Opening Commemoration Ceremonies were held in various prefectures on the railway line, along with Train
With the spread of information and communication electronic equipment, internet usage has also grown. Looking at the internet usage rate by age groups, at 2013 year-end, the internet usage rate for people aged 13 to 59 was over 90%, and even in the age group of people over age 60, the internet usage rate is on a growing trend (Figure 2-1-84).

With this spread of ICT and increased internet usage, the daily life of consumers has changed so they can shop without being limited by time and location. For this reason, the use of the internet for business transaction has also increased.

The market size of Japan’s electronic business targeting consumers is growing steadily to approximately JPY11.2trillion in 2013, with an approximately 3.7% EC use rate $ ^{Note\ 36} $ , which is the indicator for the infiltration rate of the electronic commerce (Figure 2-1-85).

(Note) "Overall" means population over age 6. Calculated excluding the "No Answers". Source) "FY2013 Trend Survey of Communication Use" by MIC

Figure 2-1-85 Changes in the Market Size of Japan's Electronic Commerce for Consumers

This kind of growth in the electronic commerce market and the diversification of consumer needs has influenced the field of logistics. Looking at the changes in the flow of cargo, the cargo weight of each transport has decreased but the number of transports has increased. Also, in looking at changes in the number of items handled by “Takuhaibin” (package delivery services) Note 37, from the fact that the number of items handled is increasing, it is evident that the units being transported are becoming smaller but increasing in frequency (Figure 2-1-86, Figure 2-1-87).
Changes in Cargo Flow (Survey for period of 3 days)

Along with the above-mentioned changes, there has been an increase in redeliveries due to the receiver not being home. In order to improve the efficiency of cargo distribution by reducing redeliveries, package delivery companies, together with mail order companies, formed a “Committee to Promote the Diversification of Methods to Receive Package Deliveries to Reduce Redeliveries”. This Committee is working on understanding the current situation, analyzing the causes, investigating the various issues, and looking for solutions to reduce the number of redeliveries through things like promoting the diversification of methods for receiving packages.

In order to further streamline the cargo distribution work in light of these conditions, in recent years a reorganization and consolidation of logistics facilities has been taking place. Currently there is a trend of establishing large-scale logistics facilities which combine the various functions of not only storage but disposal of goods, distribution processing, and advanced information processing, in closer proximity to cities, close to the areas where the consumers live. As a result of the growing demand for these logistics facilities, their attraction as an investment target is also growing. Looking at assets

acquired according to J-REIT Note 38, offices, houses, and businesses/stores used to be the main targets, but in recent years investment into logistics facilities has been showing some growth (Figure 2-1-88).

## (The Contribution of Logistics to the Local Society)

### a. Local Employment from Establishment of a Logistics Facility

In the past, logistics facilities were mainly a one-level warehouse just for storing merchandise but, as mentioned before, the more recent logistics facilities handle processes like sorting and packing the cargo, as well as inventory management.
In recent years, such multifunctional, large-scale logistics facilities are being built quite frequently and are contributing to the creation of employment opportunities in the Rural Areas.

■ Being Holdings, Inc. “Hakusan No.3 SCM Center” ~Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture~

In November 2014, Being Holdings, Inc.—a general logistics and transportation company in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture—established Hakusan No.3 SCM (Supply Chain Management) Center, a large-scale logistics center with a 2,992 Tsubo (9,890.91m $ ^{2} $ ) site area with a total floor space of approximately 3,940 Tsubo (13,024.79m $ ^{2} $ ), in Hakusan City of Ishikawa prefecture.

Hakusan No.3 SCM Center has created many more employment opportunities than the conventional types of logistics facilities, and below is a comparison with the existing facilities owned by Being Holdings, Inc.

- Hakusan No.3 SCM Center ~ Inventory Stock-type Logistics Facility (2014)

→ This is a facility where the merchandise is stored temporarily to do the distributing processing, such as the unpacking, wrapping, and inspection, as well as the actual delivery. For this reason, compared to other logistics facilities, both the floor space and number of employees is greater in scale. 135 people are employed at Hakusan No.3 SCM Center, and of those employees 100 people were hired locally, thus contributing to the creation of employment opportunities in a Rural Area.

Summary of Logistics Facilities Owned by Being Holdings, Inc. Figure 2-1-89

Name of Facility	Hakusan No.3 SMC Center	Kanazawa Case Center	Nagaoka Aoki TC
Uses	Storage, Distribution Processing, Cargo Handling, Delivery	Storage, Inventory Management	Cargo Handling, Delivery
Total Floor Space (Tsubo)	3,940	250	421
Employees (People)	135	1	10
of which Local Hires (People)	100	0	9

Source) Being Holdings, Inc.

- Kanazawa Case Center ~ Conventional-type Warehouse (2010 → move to new location in 2013)

→ 1 employee based on the functions of storage and inventory management.

- Nagaoka Aoki TC (Transfer Center) ~ Transit-type Logistics Facility (2012)

→ A warehouse that holds no inventory but emphasises sorting functions. With 10 employees, there are more people employed than at the conventional-type warehouse.

In this way, the large-scale logistics facilities being built in recent years have been contributing to the creation of jobs in Rural Areas. With the expansion of internet mail order businesses and the increase in frequent small-lot deliveries, it is believed that the demand for large-scale logistics facilities will continue to increase, and there is a growing expectation of more jobs being created in Rural Areas by the building of such logistics facilities.

Figure 2-1-90

Location of Hakusan No.3 SCM Center

Source) MLIT

Figure 2-1-91

Exterior of Hakusan No.3 SCM

Source) Being Holdings, Inc.
and once hired the employee learns the necessary information through training, and by actually going along with a salesperson/driver to understand the delivery flow. Follow up is also provided so that deliveries can be made alone without any apprehension.

The future development of this program will continue garner attention as a flexible way of working.

Figure 2-1-93 Job Description of "Takuhai Mate"

· In the morning, a driver brings the packages for delivery that day to the Takuhai Mate's home → Mainly small, light packages. Delivery address is within a 2 to 3 km radius from home.

· Delivery to destination address on foot or by bicycle.

○Flow Chart for Takuhai Mate

Source) Sagawa Express Co., Ltd.

## Column

## “Tora Girl” (Truck Girl)

## ~Towards More Active Participation by Women Truck Drivers~

The entrance of women into the truck transport industry has been slower than in other lines of business, but in recent years the good work of women truck drivers is gaining attention for revitalizing the industry through the use of skills that women drivers provide, such as attentive service, good communication, and careful driving.

The Road Transport Bureau of MLIT has given women truck drivers the nickname “Tora Girl (Truck Girl)”, and is working on various plans to promote the active participation of women in the truck transport industry.

## The Necessity of Efforts for the Promoting the Active Participation of Tora Girls

Currently, the ratio of women truck drivers remains at just about 2.4% (approximately 20,000 women) of the total number of truck drivers, but the number of women who have a license to drive large vehicles is over 134,000 women, so it seems there is a certain number of women who are potentially considering driving a truck as a career option. However, there have been complaints from the women truck drivers currently working that they have been refused employment for being a woman, and that there was no bathroom for women at the delivery destination. Changing management's attitude towards hiring women, reforming the work environment to make it positive for women, and improving the image of the industry have all become pressing issues.

For this reason, MLIT has designated 2014 as the “First Year for Personnel Procurement/Development” for truck drivers, and started proactively putting out information and working with managers to promote the active participation of women in the truck transport industry.
## Creating the “Tora Girl Promotion Project Website”

In September 2014, The “Tora Girl Promotion Project Website” Note was created within MLIT’s Road Transport Bureau website to proactively send out information to improve the image of the industry. On this site, along with information about how to get a drivers licenses of various types and introducing events related to recruitment activities, there are postings of comments from currently working women drivers from all over the country and messages of encouragement from related business circles.

## Towards the Promotion of Active Participation by Women Truck Drivers

At the courtesy visit of the Tora Girls to the prime minister, Prime Minister Abe commented that he “wants the women to use their unique skills to work hard”. MLIT continues to work towards the promotion of active participation by women truck drivers for the revitalization of the industry through the use of skills unique to women.

Figure 2-1-94 Tora Girls Courtesy Visit to the Prime Minister (September 2014)

Figure 2-1-95 Tora Girls Logo

Figure 2-1-96 State of Women's Participation

Source) Developed by MLIT from "Study on Work Force" (2013) by MIC

Figure 2-1-97 State of Participation of Women with Drivers License for Large Vehicles

Source) Developed by MLIT from "Drivers License Statistics" (2013) by the National Police Agency and "Statistical Study of Basic Salary Structure" (2013) by MHLW
environment was established. When a migration interaction support center was to be established in 2007, Kamiyamacho consigned the work involved in migration interaction to Green Valley. Green Valley did not use the methods other municipalities were using to choose people to migrate, such as lottery and first-come-first-served method. Instead, they used a far-sighted strategy of having the people wanting to migrate propose what they would do in Kamiyamacho after migrating, and chose the people to migrate based on the content of their proposals. Also, in recent years, more than a dozen IT-related businesses have moved in to the area, making use of satellite offices.

Out of these offices, some have renovated old traditional houses that are about 90 years old with floor to ceiling windows. In spite of being offices for imaging companies, these “Engawa (patio) Offices” that have been modishly regenerated have become a place that attracts the gathering of various people, including local residents and visitors, and is a rare example of creating a bustling atmosphere.

Also, with the increase in satellite offices in recent years, the local region has been revitalized, with employment opportunities being created in the surrounding areas.

Going forward, the use of satellite offices for revitalizing a district is expected in other Rural Areas also.

Figure 2-1-100

Source) Green Valley, a Specified Non-Profit Organization

Satellite Office Use of Old Traditional Homes Where Various People Gather

Due to the broadband environment in place, working in this relaxed manner has become possible.

Source) Hour Tokushima, Prefectural Government Newspaper (November 2012 issue)

## Column

## Co-Working, the New Way of Working

“Co-Working”, differs from previous shared offices where merely the work space is shared, and has been developing in various places in recent years as a new way of working. Co-working is a way of working where individuals gather to share information and wisdom through communicating and cooperating depending on the situation, to create value.

“Co-Working Spaces”—places to conduct Co-Working—are currently located mostly in the Tokyo City Center but there are some established in various Rural Areas, and as of July 2014, it is projected that 365 spaces are in operation.

By having Co-Working spaces in rural cities instead of only in the large metropolitan cities, it is expected that this new way of working will lead to the revitalization of the economy in Rural Areas through co-workers of a district getting together to share their knowledge, to work together and to even start a community in the district.
Figure 2-1-101 Example of Co-Working Space

PoRTaL

OPEN THE OFFICE!

Source) Website of Hitsuji Incubation Square Inc. (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo: PoRTAL)

Kamiyama Valley Satellite Office Complex

Source) Kamiyama Valley Satellite Office Complex (Kamiyamacho, Tokushima Prefecture: KVSOC)

Reference Materials: Tomokazu Abe, Tadashi Uda, Kenta Hiramoto (2015) "State of Co-Working Space: 2014 Research Summary Report"

Kenta Hiramoto, Tomokazu Abe, Tadashi Uda (2014) "Work Style and Vision for Local Community: Looking at Co-Working"

## (3) Regional Economic Circulation and Building Up the Local District

(A Way to Think About Regional Economic Circulation)

Looking at the local economy from the “flow of funds”, the local economy can be vitalized by acquiring funds from outside the district by supplying goods and services that use of the strengths of the district to areas outside of the district, then constructing an economic circulation structure by creating new demand in the district by circulating those funds within the district. To be more specific, first the funds acquired from outside the district by a business will be spent within the district as the income of the district residents who are employees of the business. Then that spending will become income for the retail and service businesses within the district, and in turn becomes the income of the district residents employed by those.

businesses to be spent further to create a circulation. Additionally, funds that were not spent will be deposited into financial institutions, which will then be re-invested (loaned) within the district through those financial institutions to lead to further production (Figure 2-1-102). Through the working of such an economic circulation structure, employment and income will be created within the district and the district economy will be maintained.

However, many of the municipalities in the Rural Areas are in a state where this circulation is not operating well. The foundational industries of the district are stagnating and are not able to acquire funds from outside the district as they had in the past. Even funds that are acquired tend to be spent outside the district, at places like large-scale shopping centers outside the district and on internet mail order businesses. Even with funds deposited into financial institutions in the district, reinvestment inside the district is decreasing, and when comparing the loan-deposit ratio according to each prefecture between 2004 and 2014, it is evident that in many of the prefectures the loan-deposit ratio is deteriorating (Figure 2-1-103). This decrease in spending and investing within the district leads to a decrease in employment opportunities and income, which in turn becomes a cause for the district to lose its vitality.
(Note) Calculated as Loan-Deposit Ratio = Loaned Money/(Deposits + Renegotiable Deposits) × 100. Calculations as of the end of March each year. Source) Developed by MLIT from "Deposits/Cash/Loans of Each Prefecture" by The Bank of Japan

## (Improvement Strategy for the District Economic Circulation Structure)

In order to correct the economic circulation structure of local districts and reform it into an effective circulation, first a quantitative analysis of the economic circulation of the districts must be done to make it "visible". Next, a start can be made by getting a grasp on the features that vary by district, such as which businesses are acquiring funds from outside the district, and which areas have a great drain of funds. At the same time, in addition to grasping the economic circulation structure from the flow aspect, it is important to look at the stock aspect of district resources, including the natural environment, the infrastructure, and the culture/tradition.

Based on this kind of analysis of the present conditions, strategies that match each district’s actual situation will need to be implemented. Here we will discuss possible strategies for consideration from the four aspects of: “Acquisition of Funds from Outside the District”, “Curtailing Spending Drains to Outside the District”, “Diversification of Investment Methods Inside the District”, and “Investment that Uses the District’s Real Estate”.

### a. Acquisition of Funds from Outside the District

The first strategy to consider for acquiring funds from outside the district is promoting the sales outside the district of those products and merchandise that maximizes the unique resources of the district. With this in mind, various places are proactively promoting work on sixth industry Note $ ^{39} $ . By selling merchandise outside the district that has been value-added by processing primary articles such as agricultural and fishery products, not only can more funds be acquired, by handling the processing and product development within the district, employment and capital investment is created inside the district, which also leads to increasing fund circulation.

Next, promoting spending within the district by attracting people outside the district can be another method to consider for acquiring funds from outside the district. Tourism is said to be an industry with a broad base, where not only the travel and hotel businesses benefit, but its economic affect can spread to agriculture, forestry and fishery industries, as well as to the retail industry and the transportation industry. Many districts are therefore promoting tourism, even as they work on sixth industry. In order to maximize on the effects of tourism, it is necessary to think about devising ways of lengthening the tourists' duration of stays, instead of having merely daytrip/passing through-type tourism, as well as promoting gift items that have been made/processed in the district using materials from the district.

Furthermore, it is important to not only promote tourism, but to move forward in working to increase the interacting
In terms of the influence of effectively using such real estate on the economic circulation of the local district, as shown the flow chart in Figure 2-1-102, it can be seen that the flow is different between the classifications of “Improving the Real Estate Value” and “Converting Real Estate to Funds”. The methods classified as “Improving the Real Estate Value”—such as renovating houses/apartments—leads to an increase in production by generating rent income. On the other hand, because the method of “Converting Real Estate to Funds”

Classification	Method	Overview
Improvement of the Value of the Real Estate	Renovating Empty Houses/Apartments	Renovate empty house and apartments so the property can be used to earn rent income.
Use of Public Real Estate (PRE)	(Example) Construct a facility for combined public-private use and apply the rent income from the public division to the management and maintenance fee of the facility.
Converting Real Estate to Funds	Reverse Mortgage	Elderly people receive financing on the house they use as their residence and at the death of such an elderly person, the loan is paid off in one installment from the sale of the house.
Real Estate Securitization	The method where one transfers real estate owned to a separate vehicle created for convenience sake that is independent in legal/accounting terms = Investment Vehicle (SPV) and obtain funds with that real estate as proof of economic value.

Source) MLIT

Funds”—such as reverse mortgage and real estate securitization—does not increase production, it creates a flow that is characterized by distribution (income) rather than production, from the conversion to funds (Figure 2-1-108).

By focusing on the Stock (resources) within the district and making investments that uses such resources, the value of the Stock will increase and the potential value will be realized, resulting in flow newly created by rent income and conversion to funds leading to an increase in spending and savings, thus activating the fund circulation within the district.

(Example of District Revitalization Based on an Analysis of the Regional Economic Circulation)

The project of Minamata City in Kumamoto Prefecture will be introduced as an example of a Rural Area Public Organization proposing strategies based on an analysis of the regional economic circulation that has been discussed thus far.

Minamata City has been working on innovative efforts towards “Environmental City Building” from the lessons