Exploring the process of, and potential demand for, water resource land acquisition in Japan

Abstract

This study focused on the suspected conflict between Japanese public opinion and forest land acquisition by foreign investors in Japan’s water source areas. To establish whether the state of public anxiety and the regulatory efforts to address it corresponds with investors’ opinions and intentions, the study investigated the interest of investors from Taiwan and Hong Kong in acquiring land in these water source areas. An analysis of 618 responses, obtained through an online questionnaire, revealed the following: (1) recent land acquisition by foreign economic entities is concentrated on flat areas, rather than water source areas. (2) Almost all investors that acquired land were conscious of the need to maintain harmonious relations with local communities. (3) Land acquisition in water source areas is expected to continue in future, but the purpose is neither to hold assets without a clear purpose nor to resell them for profit, nor to develop water resources. (4) Investors had no intention of undermining the concerns of local residents. In future, developing an effective management plan for the water source region will depend upon creating a system of governance that allows for the sharing of consciousness and the exchange of information by local resident, cities, prefectures, and the country as a whole. Above all, it should have an accurate factual basis.