# Chapter 4 Promoting Regional Revitalization

## Section 1

## Approaches to Regional Revitalization

In order to properly respond to the declining birth rate/aging population to put a brake on population declines, while correcting the excessive concentration in Tokyo Area and maintaining vitality of Japanese society in the future by securing a comfortable living environment in each region, the Basic Policy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan 2015 was formulated in 2015 and the Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economies: Comprehensive Strategy was revised, in accordance with the Act for Overcoming the Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan passed in November 2014. Also, with the aim of deepening the regional revitalization, the relocation of governmental organizations and the idea of the Japanese version of Continuing Care Retirement Communities were examined, and information, human and financial support for the development of the regional comprehensive strategy was provided.

In June 2015, the Regional Revitalization Act was revised to include measures to create compact villages small stations that maintain various life services to promote sustainable regions in hilly and mountainous areas, as well as support measures to relocate head office functions to rural areas aimed at ensuring stable and quality jobs in rural areas.

With respect to the National Strategic Special Zones, regulatory reforms in such areas as education, healthcare and employment were added to the amended Act on National Strategic Special Districts passed in July 2015, and in August of the same year, three districts (Senboku-shi, Sendai-shi, Aichi) were added as Regional Vitalization Special Zones, the secondary designation of the National Strategic Special Zones. In January 2016, the designation was further expanded to include three districts (Hiroshima and Imabari-shi, Chiba-shi, and Kitakyushu-shi) as the tertiary designation. By implementing specific projects in all districts designated and visibly realizing regulatory reforms in areas where changes were difficult to make due to strong oppositions, further efforts were promoted for regional revitalization.

The MLIT pushes forward the development of tourism regions, having the Japanese version of the Destination Marketing/Management Organization (DMO) as its core, creating various regional contents and establishing an environment to receive tourists to realize a high-quality tourism nation under the keywords of “region” and “consumption.” The MLIT also drives efforts to create jobs by promoting the securing and development of human resources engaged in the construction, shipbuilding, transportation and other industries that underpin regional economies.

Furthermore, with the aim of reviving regional communities, we are pushing forward efforts to make regional cities compact and create transportation networks, form small station and allied core metropolitan areas, and develop houses and towns for multi-generation residents in coordination with the comprehensive regional care system in suburban metropolitan areas. We are also promoting multi-habitation in earnest and establishing an environment for making relocation easier by facilitating distribution of existing homes in order to create new flows of people into rural areas.

The MLIT has also been driving nationwide urban renaissance, as through the development of public and public-benefit facilities in a public-private partnership, as well as urban renaissance aimed at enhancement urban international competitiveness leveraging private vitalities.