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Paper short abstract:

Recently, Japanese old suburban housing estates are declining. They are facing several serious problems. Most serious problems are aging of residents and decreasing population. In this study, we try to clarify the conditions of shrinking suburbs and revitalization in Japanese cities.

Paper long abstract:

Japan's aging rate has exceeded 20%, ahead of any other country in the world. Ageing is progressing rapidly in both rural and urban areas. Recently, super-ageing in old suburbs is remarkable. Suburb is not the dream place for every families and the depopulation has been occurred in several metropolitan regions. The trend of urbanization has been changing, because population are decreasing in old suburban areas, on the other hand, population in inner-city turns to increase. Recently, Japanese old suburban housing estates, which were developed before 1970s, are declining. They are facing several serious problems. Most serious problems are aging of residents and decreasing population, these are caused by long-term dwelling. Because many Japanese think that "Japan dream" is occupancy of detached house in suburb. Japanese suburban resident tend to stay after child rearing. And another severe problem is the increasing vacancy houses. In this study, we try to clarify the conditions of shrinking suburbs in Japanese cities and will introduce some activities for revitalization in suburbs.

As for aging of suburban residents, in old housing estates the first generation of migrants grew older and to continue to live in their own house in suburban areas. Furthermore, their children grew up and moved out. Therefore, aging communities without young generations will be popular in suburbs. These are caused by the failure of town planning, which supplied the same type of houses in short term. Furthermore, increases in vacant houses are seen throughout every old suburban housing estates, it induces new uneasiness and social troubles and drop in housing price. As a countermeasure against the above, some suburban communities try to vitalize and promote community activities. In Suzugamine new town, Hiroshima, elderly and housewives established the NPO which support for "community café" and the place of meeting and the exchange time.

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Paper short abstract:

This study looks at the potential of vacant housing in Japan as a resource for community-driven development. Findings suggest that vacant housing has the potentital to first, be a source of affordable real estate; and second be a tool for preserving and promoting local identity and sense of place.

Paper long abstract:

Japan finds itself in the wake of an impending demographic crisis. Dwelling abandonment is arguably the most evident symptom of this decline. Very high vacant housing (akiya) rates result in large part from the decline of rural population, and are maintained by real-estate market and legal circumstances that are particular to Japan.

Perhaps the most viable option for peripheral regions is to explore and capitalize on tangible and intangible assets specific to the locality. Rural regions should concentrate on life beyond growth and shift their focus from deficits to opportunities, meaning that, this vacant building stock could in fact be seen as a local resource. This study investigated this potential of turning vacant housing from a symbol of social and economic deterioration, to a resource for community-driven development and revitalization.

The study aimed to devise basic prioritization criteria for evaluating the qualities of vacant structures. The goal was to attempt to provide local communities and authorities with tools to assess their surroundings, and empower them to manage it, and plan development.

A case study methodology focusing on the island of Honjima located in Japan`s Seto Inland Sea, whose communities are amongst the most affected by rapid demographic decline, was employed.

The findings showed that when attempting to assess vacant dwelling stocks the criteria can be divided into tangible and intangible considerations. Those two main categories reflect the dual character of akiya when regarded as local assets. On one hand as physical infrastructure, it could provide affordable real estate for potential migrants and communities in need of public facilities; while on the other it could be a tool for preserving, reinforcing and promoting local identity and sense of place.

Finally, the investigation on Honjima underlined the importance of understanding the local heritage, and social particularities in order to attempt locality-centered development.

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Paper short abstract:

The paper analyses the socio-economic and spatial dimensions of child poverty in Japan and looks into policy approaches undertaken by the central and local governments to address this issue. The focus is on local learning support programs enabling participating communities to enhance resilience.

Paper long abstract:

In the context of shrinking cities, poverty can be interpreted as a broad concept encompassing reduced access to a range of resources, particularly in rural and geographically remote areas. Residents of shrinking communities may experience a lack of economic, educational and career opportunities, social exclusion, and a resulting poverty of aspiration. Child poverty, in particular, is attracting growing concern in Japan, a country characterized by growing inequalities. It is a phenomenon requiring serious policy attention, because it has both a socio-economic and a spatial dimension: firstly, it affects the health and happiness of children and their families, and also their potential to access higher education, well-paid jobs, and to actively contribute to a society faced with the challenge of a rapidly declining and ageing population; secondly, the spatial dimension of child poverty should matter to policymakers because society's most vulnerable groups tend to be concentrated in spatially disadvantaged areas. This paper addresses these dimensions of child poverty in Japan by means of Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions data analysis, and examines recent policy approaches undertaken by the government to address them. In addition to selected prefectural strategic plans, the focus is on the "Chiiki mirai juku" (Community Tutoring School for the Future) program, a community-based learning assistance program for children. Improvements in local learning support coupled with the use of advanced information technology and new opportunities for bottom-up decision-making may enable participating communities to enhance resilience and quality of life.