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Case Study: Kurashiki&The Suwa Region
Case Study: Kurashiki
The city of Kurashiki flourished under the direct control of the Shogunate during the Edo Era. The city's development during the Meiji Era was propelled by the spinning industry, and since the War it has prospered as the manufacturing base for Japan's prominent Mizushima industrial complex.
The DBJ Initiative
The Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce promotes urban development utilizing the characteristics of each of the city's areas as a multifunctional metropolitan conglomeration. We took the opportunity of the chambers call for opinions and proposals from a nationwide perspective, including on encouraging tourism and settlement in the city, to carry out a local-community-building health diagnosis.
The diagnosis spanned analysis of objective criteria based on statistical data, hearings conducted at the Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce, and inspections of the status of principal tourism resources and commercial sites and of traffic access. Original procedures incorporating this information were used for analysis of the current state of the local community, the results of which were reported at a workshop attended by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Bicchu General Service Bureau and related bodies from Kurashiki City.
Reported Findings
Local Community Issues
| Population migration provisions | Marked trend toward outward migration by people of working age in their early 20s and of retirement age |
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| Minor adjustments to dependency on manufacturing |
The reduction in employment in manufacturing since the 1970s has been aggravated by the mass retirement of the baby-boomer generation. |
| Deterioration of the old city center | There has been rapid deterioration of the old town, with a resulting decline in image on the basis that visible facades are representative of the city. |
| Industrialization of tourism | Procedures to provide information on the region's local resources for tourists visiting sightseeing areas |
Countermeasures
DBJ made the following proposals based on precedents throughout Japan.
| Create a structure to promote settlement in the city and exchange between generations |
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| Formulate a new employment and industrial revitalization strategy to boost manufacturing |
| Regenerate facilities, incorporating the views of the younger generation and women, to make the city livelier |
| Formulate a tourism strategy to attract visitors featuring optimum utilization of local resources |
Following this diagnosis, a case study from the city of Kitakyushu as a precedent for a structure to promote exchange between generations was presented at the Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce. This resulted in a visit by related persons from Kurashiki to Kitakyushu and an informal meeting to exchange opinions. Further, the local-community-building health diagnosis stimulated the start of activities targeting new possibilities for the local community.
Case Study: The Suwa Region
The Suwa region is positioned roughly in the center of Nagano Prefecture. This region made a pre- to post-war transition from silk and spinning to the processing and assembly industry, with subsequent development typified by precision instrument manufacturing. Furthermore, regional resources are manifold, with an abundant natural environment, spanning Lake Suwa and Mt. Yatsu-ga-Take, various onsen (hot springs) and the Suwa Taisha shrine.
The DBJ Initiative
Local-community-building health diagnosis for the Suwa area was requested by the Suwa Wide Area Union, comprising three cities, two towns and one village. Comprehensive issues investigated included measures to promote tourism and agriculture. The diagnosis spanned analysis of objective criteria based on statistical data, numerous hearings with private companies and financial and achievement institutions in the Suwa area, and inspections of the status of urban areas and commercial sites and of traffic access. Original procedures incorporating this information were used for analysis of the current state of the local community, the results of which were reported at the Suwa Wide Area Public Administration Workshop, attended by leaders and members of the councils of the Union's six municipalities, administrative officers, persons connected with the chamber of commerce and local residents.
Reported Findings
Local Community Issues
| Deterioration of the shopping area around the station |
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| Break from dependency on manufacturing industry |
| Utilization of dormant potential in the tourism industry and in attracting visitors |
| Undervaluation of Suwa's name recognition at a local level |
Countermeasures
| Create a livelier area with consciousness of the perspectives of both residents and visitors |
Utilize vacant stores around the station for sale of specialty products |
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| Build up industry utilizing local products | Focus on processing of local goods for sale to visitors |
| Create new appeal through combinations of different local resources |
Publicize the area's natural scenery, history and culture, ways of life, etc. |
| Rediscover and share Suwa's brand value | Communicate Suwa area information to visitors via a communal website |
Following this diagnosis, there was raised communal recognition of local issues and countermeasures by people of the region, with calls for regional development measures from a diversity of parties, including local residents, public administration, private companies and universities.
