Devolving Authority and Expanding Autonomy in Japanese Prefectures and Municipalities

Abstract

The English‐language scholarship generally describes Japan as a centralized developmental state. However, while “developmentalism” does describe Japan's strategic economic approach, “centralized” no longer accurately depicts its spatial development process. This article argues that local autonomy is not equivalent in Japan, but rather, varies based upon a jurisdiction's population size and economic base. Large cities, important employment centers, and heavily populated prefectures have greater authority and influence than do smaller, less affluent communities. This article also asserts that the role prefectures play in the development planning process has been greatly undervalued. It then concludes that this combination of factors suggests that today's Japanese State is something more complex than the term “centralized” connotes.