Decline of Key Industries and Regional Development in a Rural Village

Abstract

Japan has achieved rapid economic growth since the 1960s, and has become one of the greatest economic nations in the world.On the other hand, many social problems occurred during that time such as over-population, depopulation and environmental disruption.The Japanese government has tried several approaches based on the National General Development Plan in order to solve the problems. The policy of the Japanese government was not appropriate for all regions, but the regional development policy was welcomed by rural villages more than the unified plan. It is called the Mura-okoshi (village promotion) plan.In this paper the author wishes to clarify the realities of the Mura-okoshi which has made the greatest impact on the independence of rural villages.Izumi village of Fukui Prefecture was selected as a study area where the zinc mine of Nakatatsu was shut down in 1987. Mura-okoshi has been taken as a major policy in this village since 1986.The Mura-okoshi of Izmi village has two major sections, the promotion of agriculture and the development of tourism. In order to promote the agriculture of this village, the introduction of special products such as the‘Anama-sweet corn’and the‘Anama-turnip’were planned. The newly organized agricultural group (consisting of 6 cores) and an organization for controlling the special products were arranged to accomplish this plan. Techniques of effective agriculture were also advised, and then the new agricultural region was formed.On the other hand, a camping site and log houses managed by Izumi village, and recreation facilities such as a skiing area and amusement park managed by private enterprises were constructed.Finally it was arranged that the special products of the new system would be processed in the plants of Izumi village, shipped by the service industries, and consumed in the recreation facilities.As a result of the progress of the new policy called Mura-okoshi, the industrial activities of this village were integrated and improved.