Ministry of Land, Infrastrucutre and Transport
The 5th Comprehensive National Development Plan "Grand Design for the 21st Century"

PART II

The Basis for Development in Different Fields

Chapter IV

Industrial Development

To maintain its economic vitality and to maintain living standards and stable employment, Japan must reform its economic structure and financial system, convert the industrial structure to focus on industries that are expected to grow, respond to people's needs, and encourage more foreign companies to invest in Japan and establish closer ties with other Asian countries in international business. As international competition increases due to economic globalization and the progress of information systems, and with the changes in industrial structure, Japan's regional industries are being forced to make rapid changes. For the mass-production and assembly industries including the automobile and electric machine industries that have led Japan's economic growth as well as for the traditional local industries and regional communities that are prospering on the back of factory complexes, there are rising concerns about "hollowing-out" due to stiffer international competition. Also, the commercial and service industries in provincial cities are facing severe competition because of the influx of imported goods and restructuring of the distribution network. Furthermore, the reduction of public works due to fiscal structure reform may affect regional economies. In the future, industries that are internationally competitive such as those dealing with capital goods including industrial machines as well as industries that respond to new needs related to medical care and welfare, living and culture and to information communications are likely to grow. Moreover, industries that support the aforementioned industries will also grow, including those involved in business support, human resources, software, and intellectual goods such as planning and designing. Therefore, implement the following measures, considering economic structure reform, to boost regional industries and create employment opportunities in each of the regions that have different characteristics and conditions throughout the country, and to raise the international competitiveness of companies that locate in Japan.

1)Create a favorable environment for new industries by improving intellectual resources such as R&D and human development, supporting the development of new industries and strengthening cooperation between industry, academia and the government.

2)Establish internationally attractive locations for industries by correcting the high-cost structure through deregulation, and improving the transportation and communications infrastructure.

3)Develop new forms of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. In the nature-rich residential areas, establish a new local industrial system for developing new forms of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and promote leisure-related industries. Also, improve the environment for intellectual production by using advanced information and communications systems.

Section 1
Promoting science and technology and creating a favorable environment for building industries

The facilities, equipment, systems, mechanisms for R&D that produce knowledge, technology, information and creative people are all forms of intellectual resources. Dramatically improve this intellectual resources, support new industries and encourage existing industries to start new businesses. This will help create a favorable environment for building new industries independently in metropolitan areas as well as provincial areas.

1.Improving intellectual resources

(1)Establishing and improving R&D facilities

To assist advanced R&D and education and to promote original and innovative R&D activities which contribute to the international society, improve the training and R&D facilities in higher education such as universities and research facilities. Among higher education facilities, graduate schools play an important role in promoting scientific research today. Therefore, improve graduate schools by establishing new research courses in advanced and interdisciplinary fields. Also, improve the research equipment to respond to the demands for higher performance and larger scale, and promote investment in R&D by means such as enhancement of competitive funds. Furthermore, encourage the establishment of public testing and research institutions, private research institutes and factories that have R&D facilities, as well as joint utilization of such facilities. To improve the R&D environment, introduce the principle of competition. Lift restrictions and promote flexibility in the R&D systems, customs and procedures, improve the intellectual property system including the examination time, improve the system of providing patent information in each region, and standardize the basic criteria and testing/evaluation methods.

(2)Strengthening human development including training for researchers

To nurture creative researchers and improve the research and possibilities for them, boost support for younger researchers by expanding the fellowship systems, secure research funds, improve the research environment, and improve the research evaluation system. Also, to ensure that there are enough people working in science and technology in the future, provide students with more opportunities to come into contact with science and technology related to, among others, the life and universe, and make the science and engineering departments of universities and technical colleges more attractive. Also, at regional research institutes, install joint research coordinators and utilize them. Furthermore, strengthen training at institutes of higher education for engineers and researchers in IT, improve education on information processing, and improve training systems at local public bodies and private companies.

(3)Establishing new R&D centers

To raise scientific and technological standards in regional areas, promote leading and basic R&D activities in each region. And improve the R&D infrastructure to develop pioneering research at world level and sow creative technological seeds. Also, with enhancement of networking between industry, academia and the government and investment in R&D, improve Tsukuba Academic Newtown and Kansai Science City, and furthermore, establish new R&D centers at international level, which can be cores of international spheres of interaction on a large scale.

2.Environmental improvement for creating new industries and encouraging existing industries to participate in new businesses

(1)Strengthening support for developing new industries

To create new industries and to encourage existing industries to participate in new businesses, and to create employment in each region, provide funds to new companies or companies that are developing new products and establish more factories for rent and improve research facilities. Train staff to integrate the technological seeds of companies with the market needs, provide more information on support systems for venture capital, and strengthen the distribution of technological seeds of universities and testing/research institutes. Also, encourage entrepreneurs at institutes of higher education, give more support to companies that encourage in-house ventures, and support entrepreneurs. These measures will raise the consciousness of people, and contribute to the creation of a "favorable environment for building industries." Also, utilize regional resources including existing production facilities and the natural and cultural environments to improve the streets and to establish more exchange bases. By developing industries and communities in such an integrated and synergistic manner, create attractive regional characteristics, upgrade local industries and encourage existing industries to start new businesses.

(2)Strengthening cooperation between industry, academia and the government

To boost the potential of regional R&D and development of new industries, strengthen the cooperation between institutes of higher education, public testing and research facilities, and the research departments of private companies within the region. In the public testing and research facilities, exchange technical information, encourage joint research and use of testing facilities and pursue cooperation beyond administrative divisions. In institutes of higher education, mobilize funds and researchers to boost joint research, commissioned research, technical consulting and technical education with local private companies. Also, establish more joint research centers to support R&D, and establish councils to promote cooperation between industry, academia and the government in each region, and so improve both human resources and facilities. Furthermore, strengthen the consulting functions including regional strategies, corporate management and market strategies. Also, at special high schools, etc., promote cooperation with local industrial groups.

In addition, enhance R&D to promote joint research and exchange activities between multiple industrial, academic and governmental research facilities by utilizing information and communication networks.

Section 2
Regional development of service industries such as intellectual goods industries by providing more intellectual opportunities

Industries that produce intellectual property including software, plans and designs, advertisement, and research results not only increase regional employment but also add productivity and value to existing industries including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and manufacturing. Also, the intellectual property industries also support the development of social service industries that help improve regional living standards. By providing people with more opportunities for learning and business, in other words by increasing intellectual opportunities, strengthen the regional intellectual resources. Mainly in the major core city areas, hub cities and the prefectural hub cities, promote the establishment of intellectual goods industries.

1.Increasing intellectual opportunities

(1)Providing equal intellectual opportunities by using information and communications

To provide equal intellectual opportunities throughout the country, improve the information and communications infrastructure, promote the use of information and communications, and improve the systems that provide technical information and market information in response to changing needs of users. Establish networks that quickly and properly provide comprehensive scientific and technological information, and build electronic library systems so that many people can easily access necessary information and learning opportunities at affordable prices. Also, establish national networks of multimedia systems for retrieval and use between libraries, and establish and network multimedia systems for providing local citizens with different types of information concerning lifelong study. Also, provide courses at the University of the Air throughout the country, promote networking among universities by satellite communications, and establish correspondence courses for graduate studies to build a flexible higher education system that can provide intellectual opportunities according to the interests and abilities of learners.

(2)Providing more opportunities to learn and develop vocational abilities

To increase intellectual resources and to promote intellectual goods industries in each region, it is necessary to provide more opportunities to learn or to develop vocational abilities. Higher educational institutions including universities play important roles in the creation of new industries, technologies and cultures in each region. However, the population of people aged 18 will decrease and so universities will not be expanded. The establishment or expansion of universities should be done, paying attention to the regional differences in the number of universities, social demands, and the need for recurrent education increasing with the remarkable progress of technology. To utilize institutions of higher education for recurrent education, provide various entrance opportunities including the selection of employees as students. And, provide flexible courses by establishing satellite graduate schools. Furthermore, provide more open courses and promote the use of university libraries by the public. Moreover, promote interregional cooperation between institutions of higher education including credit exchange systems between universities. For education facilities such as libraries and museums, improve the facilities and equipment as well as the quality by training instructors, etc. Through interregional cooperation, establish a system to promote comprehensive lifelong learning, and provide easier access to such intellectual opportunities.

To develop vocational abilities in response to the changing industrial structure, build and improve public facilities to develop vocational abilities in each region. Also, improve the quality of training and seminars provided at public testing and research institutions and at regional vocational training facilities. Furthermore, help private companies to offer regional training including the opening of learning courses or by establishing corporate museums.

2.New development of service industries including the intellectual goods industries

To promote the establishment of intellectual goods industries near metropolitan areas or in the hub cities and the prefectural hub cities, improve the regional business environment including the intellectual resources by providing more intellectual opportunities. At the same time, improve the regional living environment, and train and encourage more people to be engaged in the fields of information, designing, etc.

The development of social service industries including medical care, welfare and health, and education and culture services, the demand for which will greatly increase, will improve regional living and provide the basis for establishing new industries. It is therefore necessary to promote social services by private companies as well. The development of industries involved in the environment including recycling and disposal of waste will help conserve resources and protect the environment. Such industries will help boost regional employment opportunities and play an important role to form environment-conscious society which will cope with the environmental issues including global warming.

There are concerns that commercial and service industries will become stagnant in inner-city areas for the following reasons. First, consumption and purchasing powers are diminishing due to the decreasing and aging population. Second, commercial facilities are being set up in the suburbs, which can provide diverse services. To activate these industries in the inner-city areas, expand the market areas by strengthening the cooperation between neighboring cities and establish the facilities of distribution and service industries in combination with parks, cultural facilities, hospitals, etc.

Section 3
Establishing internationally attractive locations for industry

To maintain Japan's economic vitality and to ensure stable employment by ensuring that Japanese companies locate their offices in Japan and by encouraging foreign countries to invest in Japan, it is necessary to establish internationally attractive locations for industry within Japan. To achieve this, promote deregulation in the fields of advanced information and communications, logistics, finance, energy, etc. to correct the high-cost structure of Japan's entire economic system and to promote free business competition. At the same time, improve the business environment as follows.

1.Establishing better locations in agglomerate industrial regions

(1)Maintenance and development of infrastructure technologies and agglomerate skills for industrial regions

For agglomerate industrial regions that have helped Japan's economy to respond flexibly to the international division of labor, they need to utilize their technologies, skills and human resources to develop new products or to pioneer new technologies. Especially, small- and medium-sized companies that have advanced processing technologies and test-production facilities and skilled workers are needed for creating new industries and products. Maintain and develop them as the basis of Japan's industrial production. To provide companies with product and market development information, activate interactions between different industrial fields and between the industrial, academic and governmental sectors. Also, promote the establishment of networks for receiving or giving orders and for developing products between small- and medium-sized companies that have unique technologies.

For the coastal industrial belts in metropolitan areas, develop new industries on land that is not used at all or not used satisfactorily due to changes in industrial structure by utilizing the easy access to urban and industrial functions. To achieve this, encourage the development of new industries in harmony with urban and residential surroundings, and review systems of industrial land use and improve the industrial infrastructure.

(2)Improving the industrial infrastructure

To establish internationally attractive locations, improve the business environment by improving the intellectual resources and living environment. Also, improve transportation networks including harbors, airports and high-standard highways. Also, increase the ease of doing business by computerizing and simplifying the procedures for import/export, customs clearance and clearance at harbors, and establish logistics facilities to improve international interaction. By these measures, improve the industrial infrastructure both in terms of software and hardware, which will thus improve transportation conditions and cooperation between companies. Furthermore, based on diversified corporate needs, improve sites and water facilities in line with regional industrial development strategies, while paying attention to environmental conservation.

For the New Industrial Cities and Special Areas for Industrial Consolidation, continue to improve and develop diversified industries and to create attractive communities and employment opportunities by utilizing existing industrial assets and the urban infrastructure. At the same time, examine how to improve these areas in the regional promotion policies for the long term. For technopolis and intellectual industry areas, there has been industrial development thanks to the past measures. To upgrade the industries and create new industries in the areas, strengthen cooperation and interaction between companies and universities.

In the eastern district of Tomakomai, because of the wonderful location, production facilities, energy-related facilities and a national oil storage base that are vital for Japan have been constructed. Based on recent socioeconomic changes, examine development measures and implement plans accordingly.

In the Mutsu-Ogawara district, a national oil storage base, and nuclear fuel cycling facilities that are vital for Japan and research facilities have been constructed. Based on recent socioeconomic changes and past infrastructural improvements, examine development measures and implement plans accordingly.

However, development measures for the two districts should be properly examined based on the Cabinet decision to streamline public corporations. The decision states as follows. "For the two projects related to the Hokkaido-Tohoku Development Finance Public Corporation, before the establishment of the new bank, the related governmental agencies, local public bodies and private companies shall consult with each other and decide on the treatment."

2.Regional development of manufacturing industries, etc.

(1)Progress of the division of labor with Asia and location of industries

For capital goods such as industrial machinery, intermediate advanced goods such as automobiles and parts of electric machines, and for value-added consumer goods that are produced in small lots, the division of labor will progress between Japan and other Asian countries. As a result, the import and export of finished goods and parts, and human interaction will dramatically increase, and the manufacturing industries will steadily grow.

Also, in provincial areas, improve the international interaction infrastructure to encourage such industries to develop. Also, to promote the development of domestic-demand oriented industries in the provinces, improve the conditions for locating manufacturing industries including the intellectual resources and transportation infrastructures.

To encourage industrial relocation, based on the future prospects of Japan's manufacturing industries in response to the environmental changes including economic globalization, consider balanced national development, while paying attention to the international competitiveness of industrial locations.

(2)Encouraging foreign companies to locate their bases in Japan

Because Japan is an integral part and the biggest market of the growing Asian region and because Japan offers business advantages such as expertise and knowledge in research and technology, more foreign companies are expected to build factories and research institutes in Japan. To encourage foreign companies to invest in Japan, promote deregulation, implement financial measures, provide information, encourage M&A, correct Japanese-style trading habits, and correct the high-cost structure. Each region in Japan should also encourage foreign companies to locate their bases in the region by offering incentives such as preferential systems.

Also, improve the transportation and communications infrastructures, strengthen regional research and technological development infrastructures, and establish good working and educational environments involving language, culture, safety and living that are attractive to foreigners.

3. Coordinating labor supply and demand between industries, jobs and regions

In accordance with the increase of intellectual resources in each region, the demand for researchers and engineers will greatly increase and the occupation structure will greatly change. Employment forms and wage systems are also changing, and the relocation of labor will shift from the traditional relocation by new employment and retirement to that between jobs and industries. Encourage labor mobility without unemployment, and improve the labor markets so that people can participate in and move between jobs more easily. Establish systems to provide good employment information to job seekers including those already in work, and encourage the development of vocational skills including special and technical ones. Also, to enable people to choose jobs and design their own life plans according to their skills, provide vocational training at the elementary and secondary education levels so that students can acquire vocational experience and ideas. At the same time, establish a system to provide vocational information to people regardless of age.

On the other hand, the labor groups who have difficulty in moving between regions will increase including the elderly, and regional differences in employment opportunities may lead to greater mismatched employment. To prevent this, support the development of attractive employment opportunities in each region, encourage people to find jobs in provincial areas, and provide more vocational advisory and training services to increase labor mobility between regions.

Furthermore, in response to the aging of society and to the trends towards the nuclear family, provide the elderly with temporary and short-term employment opportunities according to their needs and regional situations, and promote childcare or nursing leave. Through these measures, improve the support that allows people to work and keep house, and encourage women to have jobs.

Section 4
New development in agriculture, forestry and fisheries

1.New agricultural development

Japan's agriculture is embarking on structural reform. Skilled successors are utilizing the climatic and soil conditions that often exert influence on harvest to boost agriculture in each region. Prospects look good for Japan's agriculture. However, there are many agricultural problems including the delay in expansion of scale, the decrease and aging of successors, and the increase of abandoned arable land. In Japan, because agricultural production could not respond to the changes in people's dietary habits, the food self-sufficiency rate has been falling rapidly and rural communities are suffering from depopulation. To activate rural communities and to ensure a stable supply of food in the 21st century, the following measures are required to promote structural reform of Japan's agriculture while considering conservation of the land and natural environment.

(1)Expanding farm scales by promoting the liquidity of farmland

To ensure efficient, stable agricultural production, it is necessary to expand the scale of agricultural management and concentrate farmland in addition to improving the production infrastructure.

Based on the recognition that land use involves social responsibilities, coordinate the use of farmland by cooperation among agricultural committees and concentrate the use of farmland through agricultural land-holding rationalization corporations to promote greater liquidity of farmland.

(2)Nurturing next-generation successors

To secure agricultural successors despite the predicted decrease and aging of the farming population, the following are necessary: Promote the use of efficient and stable agricultural management, organize regional agriculture, and nurture agricultural successors including encouragement of participation in agriculture from other fields. Re-evaluate the role of women, and clarify the roles of people engaged in agriculture, the elderly and of farming households involved in other businesses. By implementing these measures, help those involved in agriculture.

Give more support to motivate agricultural management and promote a system for designating certain farmers. Promote the incorporation of agricultural management organizations in accordance with ability. Examine how to encourage people without successors to remain in agricultural production with the help of numerous agricultural management organizations, including the entry of conglomerates. In this case, the sustainability of agricultural management and prevention of acquisition of farmland for speculation must be considered. Especially, utilize diverse regional resources and promote the conglomerate management to provide production, processing, distribution and provision of services according to regional situations. Furthermore, to attract people to agriculture, strengthen organizations that provide information and mediation services for the acquisition of farmland, etc. and improve the systems that help stabilize the farming population. Also, nurture successors by using third parties, etc., improve school education, establish more farms for citizens, and improve technology. Especially, for hilly and mountainous areas, widely examine ways to keep people in farming.

(3)Improving the agricultural production infrastructure

To improve food productivity and to enable agricultural organizations to sustain productivity and profitability, improve the agricultural production infrastructure.

Establish large-scale farms, improve the irrigation and drainage facilities for farmland including paddy fields, improve the roads between fields, implement disaster-prevention projects for farmland, establish facilities to promote recycling of the resources including soil, and establish facilities to improve water quality. These should be efficiently conducted according to the regional situations, in harmony with the living and rural environments including the ecological system. Through technological progress, improve the quality of production infrastructure by introducing automatic water management facilities, underground irrigation facilities for farmland, and circulating irrigation systems. Furthermore, by utilizing new technologies such as advanced information systems or for utilizing clean energy, draw up and implement efficient plans for improving productivity and for conserving the environment.

Promote by using advanced technologies good maintenance and management of public infrastructure and improved agricultural production infrastructure, improve the quality of capital and draw up and implement upgrading plans. The expansion of scale by increasing the liquidity of farmland will lead to the development of new agriculture managed by fewer people. To make full use of the benefits of the public infrastructure, implement software and hardware measures in a comprehensive manner.

(4)Ensuring stable agricultural production by using new technologies including advanced information and communications

Implement comprehensive measures to improve the communications infrastructure and to develop information systems. These systems will collect climate information for agriculture, survey market trends, and improve agricultural distribution systems. Also, to improve productivity and agricultural working conditions, develop production technologies including those for sowing seeds of paddy rice directly in the fields, and promote basic as well as leading biotechnology research, etc.

(5)Developing sustainable agriculture

Agriculture has been managed based on the circulation of materials in rural communities. Recently, however, agricultural production has been adversely affecting the environment including soil and water by the abuse or improper use of insecticides and chemical fertilizers. It is therefore necessary to develop sustainable agriculture for the future. For this, it is necessary to make agricultural improvements considering the ecosystem, and to promote soil improvement by recycling organic resources for developing sustainable agriculture.

2.New development of forestry

The demand for wood is increasing worldwide, and so effective, sustainable use of domestic forest resources is required in view of the global decrease and degradation of forests. The forestry and wood industries are facing a severe situation. To enable them to help boost the economy of mountain villages and to provide forests with diverse functions, it is necessary to activate the forestry and wood industries based on cooperation between a wide range of related persons. Moreover, we must pursue industrial development in a synthetic manner and create a "tree culture" that makes full use of forest space and natural scenic beauty.

(1)Activating forestry and the wood industries in each basin

For forest improvement and utilization of forest products, establish systems to manage the forests including the production, processing and distribution of wood based on the cooperation between related persons from the upper to lower streams, regarding each basin as one unit. To achieve this, promote the expansion of forest possessors' management scale, multiple management and cooperation between forestry enterprises, and ensure business stability. Also, nurture people engaged in forestry. Moreover, support forestry activities in each basin by renting advanced, highly efficient forestry machinery or by providing information. At the same time, help improve paths through forests and logging roads and the thinning of forests. Furthermore, in response to the demand for timber for building houses, establish an efficient timber supply system to provide sufficient products of stable quality at low cost.

(2)Developing industries that utilize forests

To strengthen forestry management, promote the multiple development of forestry and the comprehensive use of forests. To achieve this, diverse wood, processed wood products and special forest products will be produced, processed and marketed; forest recreation services for physical and mental relaxation will be provided by using forest spaces and scenery, and accommodation and forest guidance services will also be offered.

(3)Developing a "tree culture"

To develop a "tree culture," we must make more people recognize the value of timber including the value for human health and smaller load on the environment. Promote the use of wood as interior finishing materials and for outside facilities, and make use of wooden resources that have not been utilized. Promote cooperation with research institutes, related companies and consumers to improve the durability of timber, to develop technologies for utilizing timber from thinning, to improve the systems to develop, process and market products in partnership with housing projects, to supply direct-from-the-forest-houses, and to promote the use of timber in public facilities including schools. Furthermore, promote recycling of timber, etc.

3.New development of fisheries

(1)Developing attractive fisheries

Establish the new TAC (total allowable catch) system based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Through self-help efforts by fishermen, promote the multiple management of marine resources. In addition, promote "aqua-culture fisheries based on stock enhancement" comprehensively and systematically by improving coastal fishing grounds, and by promoting marine breeding in an organic manner including sea-farming and cultivation for optimal, sustainable and sophisticated use of marine productivity. To achieve this, improve the systems to provide information on marine resources and catch management, and promote the development of related technologies including the technology for building fishing grounds.

To secure people engaged in fisheries, improve working conditions including efficiency and safety. At the same time, improve the software aspects by providing employment information and improving support systems for those new to fisheries. Also, improve the working conditions of fishermen, considering the elderly and women.

Furthermore, based on cooperation between fishermen and parties concerned, develop versatile fishery-related industries by utilizing marine resources, and boost the regions. For example, promote recreational fishing and diving based on marine knowledge, provide accommodations, hand down the custom of eating fish, serve dishes, and process and market marine products.

(2)Developing the production and distribution systems

Efficiently improve the fishing ports and villages that supply marine products by promoting cooperation between them according to their characteristics as integral parts of coastal areas, considering their roles in conserving and managing the marine and coastal environments. At the same time, improve the living environment of residents to provide people with more opportunities to come into contact with the sea in cooperation with urban communities and consider harmony with the ecology. In the major fishing ports, upgrade the landing and distribution facilities, strengthen the management of proper catches, and enhance communications functions. Also, in response to consumers' demands for safe and fresh marine products, improve the production and distribution systems, and promote the development and use of value-added products.

Section 5
Industrial development in nature-rich residential areas

In smaller urban communities and rural communities including hilly and mountainous areas, the increase of cheap food and imported materials is having a serious influence on the agriculture, forestry and fisheries and on the food processing and timber industries, etc. The commerce and service industries that have been supporting the smaller but important provincial cities are also becoming stagnant. There are concerns that this situation will sap regional strength. On the other hand, people in these areas will have more free time and more diverse lifestyles, and the environment and culture will become more important. Due to such trends and improvements in communications services, these areas will be evaluated differently as nature-rich residential areas that have good natural and social conditions different from those found in large cities or hub cities and prefectural hub cities. In addition to the promotion of agriculture, forestry and fisheries as basic industries, it is also necessary to develop new industries by using regional characteristics and conditions as explained below, to ensure income opportunities in these areas. In preparing industrial development strategies for these areas, it is necessary to regard the central urban community and the surrounding rural communities as an integrated area with a wide view. We must also promote urban and natural functions within the area, and increase the number of people moving between the area and metropolitan areas.

1.Develop new industries by using local resources

In the rural communities including hilly and mountainous areas, industry has relied on traditional local resources. To stimulate these areas and improve nature and living standards, it is important to strengthen the management basis of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. To fully use local resources, develop local industrial systems by promoting processing, marketing and provision of various new services, and make better use of agricultural, forestry and fisheries resources. In the process, each area should utilize its potentials including human resources, technology and skills. Promote cooperation between municipalities, prefectures, the national government, chambers of commerce, tourist associations, agricultural cooperatives, forestry cooperatives, fishermen's cooperatives, public associations for land improvement, research institutes, companies and volunteer activities. Draw up industrial promotion plans based on agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Strengthen both hardware and software support so that people having the will can participate in various fields and build a new local industrial system for using local resources.

2.Developing leisure-related industries

Make exchanges with cities by using the rich natural environments and cultural resources of the areas. Pursue new industrial development based on the growth of the tourist and recreation industries and green tourism, by encouraging the use of accommodations and second houses for urban citizens, and encourage more people to settle in the areas. The number of foreigners visiting Japan is expected to increase greatly as Asian countries develop. By improving the environment for tourists and by providing them with beautiful natural and cultural views, boost the number of visitors both from within and outside Japan. Furthermore, develop new local industries that produce handicrafts by utilizing traditional skills and special products by using and processing local resources.

3.Creating new industries and employment opportunities by using advanced information and communications systems

To promote industries that are not dependent on locations by using advanced communications systems, such as information processing services and software industries and to generate employment opportunities, provide the environment for intellectual production such as resort-style satellite offices in good natural environments. In addition, improve the transportation and communications infrastructures, reduce the cost of communication, and improve the local business and living environments including the increase of intellectual opportunities. Also, train more people engaged in local industries including the information and designing fields, and encourage people, both locals and newcomers, to find jobs in provincial areas.

>>PREVIOUS: Part II Chapter III Improving Living Conditions in Regions
>>NEXT: Part II Chapter V Improvement of Transportation and Communications Systems

>>back to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
>>back to National and Regional Planning
>>back to The 5th Comprehensive National Development Plan "Grand Design for the 21st Century" top page