Outline of the gBasic Development Plan for the Kinki Regionh (5th edition)

 

 

The new gBasic Development Plan for the Kinki Regionh will cover a period of 15 years to 2015.

 

1. Present conditions and problems surrounding the Kinki Region

l         Japan is now faced with drastic changes toward the 21st century such as sophistication of information technology, globalization, expansion of environmental problems on a global scale, falling birth rate and aging society, and a change in peoplefs awareness.

l         The Kinki Region is confronted with environmental changes surrounding industries, problems contingent to large cities, decline of its central functions, and decline of vitality in the northern and southern parts of the Kinki Region.  On the other hand, the Kansai Council and other organizations aim to promote multiple cooperation.  Also, a lesson from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake raises peoplefs awareness of disaster prevention.

 

2.  Future image of the Kinki Region

(1) Targeted image of the society and lifestyle

‡@Creation of a strong and flexible industrial economic region

l        Creation of gan industrial economic regionh with gstrengthh and gflexibilityh can endure and elastically deal with competition among regions and convulsion of world economy, which can bring about economic affluence to people.  It will greatly contribute to stimulate the Japanese economy.

‡ACreation of ga region communicating and information transmittingh that attracts people from Japan and abroad

l        Creation of ga region to conduct exchange and transmit informationh with full of life and vitality can attract many people from Japan and abroad.  Also, it will play a role as one of the centers in Japan that communicate with the world.

‡BCreation of a central region in culture and science

l        Creation of ga central region in culture and scienceh with full of historical, cultural flavor as well as in scientific creativity can enrich peoplefs mind.  Also, it will play a pioneering role in Japan in conducting a new type of scientific research while providing a venue of history and culture education so as to transfer the results of these activities to the next generation.  

‡CCreation of a safe and comfortable living space harmonizing with history, culture and nature.

l        Creation of  ga safe and comfortable living spaceh with history and nature will be merged into peoplefs daily life, by creating a safe and good living environment harmonizing with history, culture and nature, and by preserving and regeneration of nature.

 

(2) Targeted regional structure

‡@Multi-core grid structure

l      The Kinki Region has a three-polar with one-corridor structure centering around Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe.  In the Keihanshin metropolitan region, problems like a decline of its industrial vitality and its function as a national center exists. In the northern and southern parts of the region, phenomena like a sluggish condition of local industries, a decrease of population and an aging society are observed.

l      It is therefore necessary to build a unified region linked with a horizontal network in order to solve these problems, while each city or area keeps refining its own individuality.

l      Namely, each city or area, while cultivating its own individuality, tries to become a gcoreh toiling hard and competing with each other to form a dispersed gmulti-coreh in the Kinki Region. Also, through multi-layered cooperation among cities and areas in the Kinki Region, gcooperation corridorsh will be formed in these areas.

l      Observing the condition of gcooperation corridorsh in the Region, composed of these areas, it looks like a grid pattern extending from east to west and from north to south. This is a gMulti-core grid structureh that forms the Kinki Region.

l      A full-scale gMulti-core grid structureh will be built with a cooperation corridor stretching from the Harima area to Nagoya metropolitan area via Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and the eastern part of Lake Biwa.  Especially, in order to unify development of the whole Kinki Region, the Osaka Bay loop line corridor, the Kansai inland loop line corridor, the Wakasa Bay coastal road corridor, the Yoshino-Kumano history and nature corridor, the TTAT cooperation corridor, Fukui-Shiga-Mie cooperation corridor should be developed from a strategic point of view.

‡ASignificance of the Multi-core grid structure

l      A unification of the region revives peoplefs life and vitality of industries and realizes revitalization in the whole Kinki Region. It also enables the region to secure substituting functions in case of disasters. 

l      A horizontal network enables for each city or area to form the Kinki Region with diversity and makes the most of its individuality.

l      By an expansion of network to the outside of the region and creation of the network of its various areas to foreign countries, and the Kinki Region, as an united body, will activate other regions, further promote international cooperation and exchange.  Strengthening of cooperation and communicating with other regions will contribute to formation of the Japan Sea Coastal Zone, the Western Zone, the New Pacific Ocean Coastal Zone, then lead Japan to form gthe Regionally-Distributed Structure.h  

 

(3) Expected future population of the Kinki Region

l      It is expected that a total population of the Kinki Region will reach a peak of about 23.67 million in 2007. In 2015, it will drop to about 23.44 million (an increase of about 140 thousand from 1995).

 

3.  Major policies of development of the Kinki Region

(1)   Renovation of metropolitan areas

l      Preparation for a business environment, which has international attractiveness so as to cope with global competition among cities

l      Urban development positioning various functions close to daily life within a walking distance while making use of public transport systems / Promotion of changeover of land-use for scarcely used land located in city centers or bay areas

l      Improvement of disaster prevention by dismantling densely built-up old wooden houses in central areas / Promotion for people to reside in central areas

l      Creation of new industries such as amusement and leisure industry, information, communication and image-related service industry by comprehensive development in the Osaka Bay area

@

 (2)   New industrial development for revitalization of the Kinki Region

l      Activation of small and medium-sized enterprises original to each area including Higashi-Osaka / Sophistication of basic material industries such as steel and metal industries / Promotion of newly growing industries like medical treatment, social welfare and environment

l      Reinforcement of research and development function by promotion of the Kinki Research Complex Project centered on the Kansai Science City / Establishment and utilization of a technology licensing organization (TLO) to promote transfer of scientific research results to enterprises

l      Promote of support for individual entrepreneurs to start business / Activation of local industries

l      Sustainable development of agriculture, forestry and fishery industries

(3) Promotion of various types of communication

(Promotion to attract visitors and communication)

l      Promotion of tourism and recreation making the most of historical, cultural and natural resources

l      Promotion to attract visitors to cities through improvement and utilization of urban amusement facilities and international conference halls

l      Improvement of hospitality and service / Provision of information / Installation of barrier-free facilities

(Promotion of international communication)

l      Technology cooperation and development of human resources in industry, culture and environment / Organizing international sports events

l      Promotion of communication in various fields by NPO and other organizations

l      Provision of guides by volunteers, training programs for foreigners and improvement of medical facilities

(Promotion of communication and development making the most of rich resources in the areas)

l      Promotion of local industries making the most of resources in the Kinki Region including the northern and southern parts, attract visitors and multi-habitation

l      Revitalization of urban functions of small and medium-sized cities / Creation of a comfortable living environment / Development of villages engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishery

l      Revitalization of city centers, each of which is regarded as a symbol of its own city  

(4) Development of profound culture and science

(Preservation of historical and cultural resources and rediscovery of their value)

l      Appropriate preservation of cultural properties, historic sites, historic landscape, traditional performing arts, traditional technologies

l      Promotion of restoration of historic sites, such as the Rekishi Kaido Project (historical road project), to attract visitors and increase communication

l      Provision of opportunities to learn by experience for promotion of historical and cultural education

l      Preservation and utilization of historical and cultural resources by digital archives

(Promotion of cultural and scientific research)

l      Promotion of expansion of scientific research conducted by the Kansai Science City and other institutions

l      Reinforcement of scientific research functions in fields including medical care, light quantum and Asian culture through promotion of the Kinki Research Complex Project

l      Reinforcement of educational research functions at higher educational institutions  including universities, and cooperation with industrial circles and other fields

(5) Creation of areas well harmonized with environment

(Preservation and creation of greenery)

l      Creation of a network of water and greenery / Promotion of well-balanced land-use / Development of urban greenbelts and biotopes / Preservation of mountain forests in villages, etc

l      Promotion of forest development from various aspects including creation of water supply source securing cooperation in the upstream and downstream of rivers 

(Comprehensive preservation and development of river basins)

l      Promotion of implementation of comprehensive measures aiming at construction of a solid water circulation system in areas including the basins of Yodo River and other related areas using their water as well as flood sources / Promotion of the comprehensive preservation of Lake Biwa

(Building a society with less environmental load)

l      Promotion of co-generation, reduction of environmental load in transport by traffic demand management (TDM) in urban areas, streamlining of distribution

l      Emission control of hazardous waste, promotion of recycling and appropriate disposal

(Comprehensive utilization and preservation of the bay areas)

l      Promotion of comprehensive utilization and preservation of the bay areas through implementation of measures including preservation and creation of environment, development of new city-type industry to create areas with full of vitality, and improvement of transport system

(6) Creation of a safe and comfortable living space based on regional characteristics

(Forming a safe and secure living space)

l      Preservation of green located between cities / Demolition of packed old wooden houses / Securing substituting and multiple functions of infrastructure / Cooperation among local authorities / Promotion of cooperation with citizen sectors / Promotion of afforestation and flood control

(Development of comfortable living environment)

l      Provision of housing stock to comply with diversified living needs, including remodeling or changing houses

l      Development of houses and living environment with individuality making the most of regional resources and culture / Creation of good surrounding

l      Development of houses, public facilities, urban areas and public transport system by universal design

l      Supporting social activities by women, senior citizens, provided with enriched medical care and social welfare facilities and child rearing and nursing support

(Expansion of education and culture)

l      Enrichment of child rearing environment and educational environment / Utilization of existing facilities including museums / Promotion of appropriate development and management of such facilities

(Development of a water and energy supply system)

l      Systematic promotion of water resource development / Development of sewage treatment plants and energy supply system

(7) Development of transport/information and communication systems and infrastructure for the future

(Development of a transport system that supports cooperation and exchange)

l      Development of the Kansai International Airport and international harbors and a transport system to enhance accessibility to these places from other parts of the region / Promotion of development in other fields including roads and railways

l      Promotion of intelligent transport system (ITS) and development of a highly convenient public transport system

(Promotion of utilization and development of an information and communication system)

l      Promotion of utilization of information and communication in various fields

l      Development of a high technology network in information and communication / Development of environment related to communication and electronic commerce industry / Promotion of information education at schools making use of Internet

l      Transmission of information unifying all areas of the region / Improvement of  information-transmitting power through provision of multi-lingual information

(Promotion of efficient and effective development of social infrastructure)

l      Priority development of infrastructure contributing to the self-support and mutual cooperation of the areas as well as communication

l      Development of infrastructure based on objective assessment and the role sharing of public and private sectors / Promotion of efficient utilization and operation of facilities, and of cost reduction

4.  Creation of strategic cooperation corridors

(1) Creation of the Osaka Bay Loop Line Corridor

Creation of the Osaka Bay Loop Line Corridor from the Kansai International Airport/Senshu to Wakayama, the Kitan Strait, Awaji Island, the Akashi Strait, Kobe and Osaka by enhancing visitor exchange, central functions, international communication, transport, industries, and scientific research, and by reinforcing cooperation among these functions.

 

(2) Creation of the Kansai Inland Loop Line Corridor

Creation of the Kansai Inland Loop Line Corridor from the Harima Science Garden City, and Himeji to Hokushin/Sanda, Kyoto, the Kansai Science City, Nara, Gojo and Wakayama by enhancing various functions of industries and scientific researches and reinforcing cooperation between these functions.

 

(3) Creation of the Wakasa Bay Coastal Road Corridor

Creation of the Wakasa Bay Coastal Road Corridor from Tsuruga to Obama and  Miyazu/Maizuru through reinforcement of cooperation related to promotion of activities to attract people making the most of natural resources and historical and cultural assets, the Japan Sea Rim Communication, and multi-habitation (living in a several places).

 

(4) Creation of Yoshino-Kumano History and Nature Corridor

Creation of the Yoshino-Kumano History and Nature Corridor from Wakayama to Tanabe, Shingu, Matsuzaka and Ise, and from Ise to Gojo and Wakayama, ghealingh and gresurrectionh places, by reinforcing cooperation related to promotion of attracting people making the most of historical and cultural assets and natural resources.

 

(5) Creation of the TTAT Cooperation Corridor

Creation of the TTAT Cooperation Corridor from Tango/Tajima to Awa and Tosa by enhancing their functions and reinforcing cooperation to activate areas and to enhance various communication from the Japan Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

 

(6) Creation of Fukui/Shiga/Mie Cooperation Corridor

Creation of Fukui/Shiga/Mie Cooperation Corridor by enhancing their functions and reinforcing cooperation in order to activate the areas and strengthen alignment with the Chubu Region.

 

5.  Infrastructure plan and the designated areas

(1) Based on the above-mentioned comprehensive and basic vision, the direction of development will be pointed with regard to 30 kinds of infrastructure including roads, railways, harbors, airports, rivers and houses considering necessary items in implementation.    

 

(2) The Designated areas

Based on the Kinki Region Development Act, detailed standards will be provided as the designated Suburban Development Areas, the Urban Development Areas and the Conservation Areas, which is necessary for well-balanced development in the whole region.

 


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