Cities In Japan Research Articles

An Equity Evaluation on Accessibility of Primary Healthcare Facilities by Using V2SFCA Method: Taking Fukuoka City, Japan, as a Case Study

The primary healthcare facilities are among the most basic needs of the residents, huge in quantity and widespread. Their distributions are directly related to people’s health, which affects the sustainable development of cities. The accessibility calculation of primary level healthcare facilities and the equity evaluation of accessibility from the perspective of medical service category and urban population is very important for the decision-making of layout and configuration but has been ignored for a long time. This study took the primary healthcare facilities of Fukuoka city in Japan as research objects; it first used the variable two-step floating catchment area (V2SFCA) method to calculate the healthcare catchment areas (HCAs) of medical service providers and the population catchment area (PCAs) of medical demand locations, and then obtained the accessibility to primary healthcare facilities. Finally, the spatial disparities of accessibility were evaluated from three aspects: overall space distribution by using Global and Local Moran’s I, service quality, and the population to be served. The results showed that HCAs were from 500 m to 6400 m, PCAs ranged from 500 m to 3000 m, the use of variable catchments can improve the accuracy of accessibility assessment results; the accessibility of primary healthcare facilities was clustered and had significant spatial differences, which were high in urban center and low in suburban area; the obvious differences in the accessibility distribution characteristics of clinics in differential diagnosis and treatment departments led to different degrees of unsaturation in the types of medical services obtained by residents; although the elderly’s demand for basic medical care was many times higher than that of other age groups, the accessibility in high-demand areas was generally low, and the situation in severely high-demand areas was more serious. This work puts forward a multi-dimensional realistic evaluation system for equality accessibility of primary healthcare facilities, providing the data support for the medical resources and facilities’ allocation and the intensive land use.

The effect of price on the quality of public construction in Japan

We examine whether the price affects the contractor’s choice of quality using the ex-post quality evaluation data of public construction projects conducted by Ise City in Japan. Ise City employs a sealed-bid first-price auction with reserve and minimal prices in the selection of contractors. Upon completion of the project, Ise City evaluates the quality of the work using a 100-point scale score based on items such as administration, safety, time management, external appearance, and functionality. Our results show that the winning price in the auction does not affect the quality of the work. We discuss several reasons behind this finding.

Ecology of medical care for 90+ individuals: An exhaustive cross-sectional survey in an ageing city.

Urbanization and ageing are worldwide issues for healthcare providers. In particular, older adults aged 90 years and older have increased cognitive impairment and lower daily functioning than younger adults. However, the healthcare use of the oldest old remains unclear. This study aimed to describe the healthcare use of the oldest old compared with younger older adults in a city using the ecology of medical care model. We conducted a cross-sectional study. This study targeted all residents aged 75 years and older registered in a city in Japan for one year. We described healthcare use per 1000 inhabitants over a 1-month period and included: outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, home visits, home care services, and facility services. We also compared healthcare use among older adults aged 75-89 years and 90 years and older. We described the healthcare use of 454 366 (male/female: 186 177/268 189) older adults. The numbers of persons per 1000 residents who used healthcare resources at least once in 1 month (75-89 years/90 years and older) were: outpatient clinic visits, 622/570; hospital outpatient visits, 300/263; advanced treatment hospital outpatient visits, 16/6; emergency department visits, 10/27; hospitalizations, 45/96; advanced treatment hospital hospitalizations, 2/1; planned home visits, 36/228; urgent home visits, 6/38; home care services, 173/533; and facility services, 32/178. The results revealed that older adults over 90 years had more hospitalizations, emergency department visits and home visits, and used facility/home care services more compared with older adults aged 75-89 years. The results provide a useful benchmark for healthcare use estimation. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 483-489.

A cross-sectional survey of patient\u2019s perception and knowledge of dental implants in Japan

BackgroundThis study aimed to collect data regarding patient perception and knowledge of dental implants. It was conducted with the hope that the data would provide dental professionals and policymakers with a better understanding of ways to promote implant therapy.Methods An anonymous online survey with 10 questions was distributed through 12 dental offices in Tokyo and provincial cities in Japan to assess patient perception and knowledge of dental implants. Harvard Medical School’s IRB approved this study.ResultsWe collected data from 1172 patients (59% female, 41% male). The most common perceptions of implant therapy were that it was “expensive,” “advanced,” and “scary”. Patients’ implant knowledge came primarily from magazines or books, while professional dental societies/associations were the least sought out source of information. Patients believed that the purpose of dental implants was to avoid dentures and improve chewing function. Their primary concerns about dental implants were the cost and longevity. Approximately 12% of patients with dental implants and 61% of patients without implants did not know that bone grafts may be required and that sedation during surgery was an option. For patients who experienced sedation during the procedure, 60% of them want it for future surgeries. Patients also had limited knowledge of bone-graft materials and the effects of CBCT radiation; 75% of the patients expressed concerns over the safety of graft materials and radiation exposure. For patients with a history of dental implant therapy, 80% of them would recommend dental implants to their family and friends.ConclusionsOverall, patients’ experiences with dental implant therapy were positive, but there was a lack of patient education regarding dental implants and their associated procedures. Dental professionals need to take the initiative to improve patient education.

The Experience and Enlightenment of Asian Smart City Development—A Comparative Study of China and Japan

With the urbanization level advancing in cities, increasingly significant urban ecological environment problems must be solved. The construction of a smart city with the overall development of information technology also regards environmental friendliness as the primary goal. The “smart” idea of urban environment innovation and governance has become a new model. In this paper, we first expound on the development process of low-carbon cities, eco-cities, and smart cities in Japan and China. Then, we analyze the coordinated development of intelligent environmental protection measures in government policies, transportation, energy utilization, resource recovery, and community management. Finally, we compare Japan and China’s smart city development characteristics. We discuss the improvement measures for energy utilization, urban transportation, and urban operation, including developing renewable energy systems, efficient energy use, and citizen participation policy. These experiences can provide feasible measures for constructing Asian smart cities and have great significance for the city’s sustainable applications and practice.

RELATION BETWEEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BUILDINGS BY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND THE CHANGES IN COMMERCIAL ACCUMULATION AROUND THEM OF LOCAL CITIES IN JAPAN

This research aims to clarify the relation between the characteristics of the buildings by redevelopment projects and the changes in the numbers of stores around them in local cities in Japan. The results are as follows:

Prevalence of HIV infection among non-elderly individuals with hepatitis C in Japan: a population-based cohort study using a health insurance claim data

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) has been mainly transmitted through injection drug use, but recently, sexual transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), which is also a major route of HIV transmission, is increasing. However, the prevalence of HIV and the incidence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HCV patients have been rarely reported.MethodsUsing a healthcare insurance claim data of employees and their dependents covering seven-million people in Japan, we evaluated HIV prevalence among HCV patients aged 20–59 years. Hemophilia patients were excluded. HIV and HCV were defined by registered diagnoses and receiving viral RNA testing. The time course of HCV and HIV infections was analyzed. Incidences of syphilis, amebiasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B were assessed.ResultsFrom April 2012 to August 2018, 6,422 HCV patients were identified. HIV prevalence was 0.48% (31/6422, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 0.33–0.68%). HIV was diagnosed after HCV in 3.2% (1/31), before HCV in 58.1% (18/31), and concurrently in 38.7% (12/31). Compared with HCV patients without HIV infection, HCV/HIV co-infected patients were younger (median age, 37 vs 51 years, p < 0.001), more likely to be male (30/31 [96.8%] vs 3059/6391 [47.9%], p < 0.001), more likely to have other STIs (38.7% [12/31] vs 0.9% [56/6391], p < 0.001), and live in Tokyo, the most populous capital city in Japan (67.7% [21/31] vs 11.6% [742/6391], p < 0.001). In Tokyo, the HIV prevalence among 20–30 s male with HCV was 18.6% (13/70; 95% CI, 10.3–29.7%).ConclusionsHIV prevalence among young male HCV patients was very high in Tokyo. HCV/HIV co-infected patients were more likely to acquire HIV before HCV, which is a known feature of MSM. They also had a higher incidence of STIs. These findings suggest that HCV might be prevalent as an STI among MSM particularly in Tokyo.

Development of a Novel Nutrition-Related Multivariate Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairment Based on the Plasma Free Amino Acid Profile.

Nutritional epidemiology has shown the importance of protein intake for maintaining brain function in the elderly population. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be associated with malnutrition, especially protein intake. We explored blood-based biomarkers linking protein nutritional status with MCI in a multicenter study. In total, 219 individuals with MCI (79.5 ± 5.7 year) from 10 institutions and 220 individuals who were cognitively normal (CN, 76.3 ± 6.6 year) in four different cities in Japan were recruited. They were divided into the training (120 MCI and 120 CN) and validation (99 MCI and 100 CN) groups. A model involving concentrations of PFAAs and albumin to discriminate MCI from CN individuals was constructed by multivariate logistic regression analysis in the training dataset, and the performance was evaluated in the validation dataset. The concentrations of some essential amino acids and albumin were significantly lower in MCI group than CN group. An index incorporating albumin and PFAA discriminated MCI from CN participants with the AUC of 0.705 (95% CI: 0.632–0.778), and the sensitivities at specificities of 90% and 60% were 25.3% and 76.8%, respectively. No significant association with BMI or APOE status was observed. This cross-sectional study suggests that the biomarker changes in MCI group may be associated with protein nutrition.

A Study on the Comparison of Impressions of Tourist Information Signs Focusing on the Differences between National Languages in Japanese Regional Cities

From the perspective of universal design, signs should be easy to understand for all users. In Japan, tourist information signs have become increasingly multilingual in recent years as the number of tourists from other countries has increased. However, it is not clear whether the current signs are comprehensible to both Japanese and non-Japanese speakers. In this study, field and questionnaire surveys on signs were conducted in Matsue City, a regional city in Japan, and the evaluations of Japanese and non-Japanese speakers were compared. In the field survey, a caption evaluation method was used to evaluate the visual environment, and in the questionnaire survey, the SD method was used to evaluate the signs obtained in the field survey. The results indicated that non-Japanese speakers were more likely to focus on signs, and signs with diagrams and maps were evaluated more positively. In addition, the evaluation structure of signs was found to consist of four elements: “Harmonicity”, “Clarity”, “Visibility”, and “Comprehensibility”. “Harmonicity” was indicated to be as important as “Clarity” and “Visibility”. These results suggest that the replacement of text with diagrams on signs contributes to the improvement of impressions and is particularly effective for non-Japanese speakers.

Effects of Early Postdischarge Rehabilitation Services on Care Needs–Level Deterioration in Older Adults With Functional Impairment: A Propensity Score–Matched Study

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of early postdischarge rehabilitation on care needs–level deterioration in older Japanese patients. DesignPropensity score–matched retrospective cohort study. SettingA secondary data analysis was conducted using medical and long-term care insurance claims data from a suburban city in Japan. ParticipantsWe analyzed patients (N=2746) aged 65 years or older who were discharged from hospital to home between April 2012 and March 2014 and had care needs certification indicating functional impairment. InterventionsThe provision of early rehabilitation services by rehabilitation therapists within 1 month of discharge. Propensity score matching was used to control for differences in characteristics between patients with and without early rehabilitation services. Main Outcome MeasuresAny deterioration in care needs level during the 12-month period after discharge. Cox proportional hazards analyses were conducted to identify the association between the exposure and outcome variables after matching. ResultsAmong 2746 patients, 573 (20.9%) used early rehabilitation services. Care needs–level deterioration occurred in 508 patients (incidence: 18.3 per 1000 person-months), of which 76 used early rehabilitation services (12.3 per 1000 person-months) and 432 did not use early rehabilitation services (20.0 per 1000 person-months). One-to-one propensity score matching produced 566 matched pairs that adjusted for the differences in all covariables. In these matched pairs, the hazard of care needs–level deterioration was significantly lower among patients who used early rehabilitation services (hazard ratio=0.712, 95% CI, 0.529-0.958). A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed similar results (log-rank: P=.023). ConclusionsEarly rehabilitation services provided by rehabilitation therapists after hospital discharge appeared effective in preventing care needs–level deterioration, and involving rehabilitation therapists in transitional care may aid the optimization of health care for older Japanese adults with functional impairment.

Ccessing the Sustainable Potential of Urban Projects Towards Smart Cities in Japan and the Middle East

Today’s new perspectives on ‘smart’ cities are becoming increasingly different from the past when people thought about the idea of urbanism which was the central terminology for studying the changing urban environment. With the rapid development of cities, the definitions and functions of urbanization are shifting towards green-urban development and sustainable ‘smart’ innovations. These changes are because of globalization, goals of a green future, and inter-cooperation locally and globally. This paper examines the sustainable potential of urban projects towards ‘smart’ cities in Fukuoka, Japan, and Dubai, the Middle East, with the two different cases and follows discussion on the aspects of ‘smart’ and ‘greening’. This article incorporates a fourfold methodology. First, the conceptualization of ‘urbanism’ is explored by examining the previously researched accomplishments and terminologies about urban studies and smart cities. Secondly, the Japanese case study on the city of Fukuoka is analyzed by considering Fukuoka is a great example since it innovates and practices on the built environment with the thinking of sustainability and the geographic feature of Japan where it has been reported that Japan is in a high threat level of natural disasters. Thirdly, the Dubai case study is argued by criticizing how the urban projects serve and improve the city in the ‘smart’ and ‘greening’ way and paying attention to the real estate and man-made environment. Fourth, this paper is concluded with a discussion to extract the points of smart cities and sustainable development from the two cases. In summary, the applicability of the sustainable potential of urban projects in Fukuoka and Dubai may provide real-life examples for reviewing and studying. The future operations in urban development and the innovative constructions in smart cities would be case by case based on the individual circumstances of different cities worldwide to react and manage the influences and changes caused by an unpredictable climate.

Mouse Model of Sendai Virus-Induced Lung Disease.

Sendai virus (SeV), also known as the murine parainfluenza virus 1, is an enveloped negative-sense RNA paramyxovirus from the family Paramyxoviridae and genus Respirovirus. The virus was named after Sendai, city in Japan, where it was first isolated (Kuroya, Ishida, Yokohama Med Bull 4:217-233, 1953). Antigenically, SeV is closely related to human parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3. SeV is pneumotropic and naturally infects the respiratory tract of rodents. At the proper inoculum (2×105 pfu), SeV causes infection that is limited to the airway mucosa and inflammation mainly restricted to bronchiolar tissues as seen in asthma pathogenesis models using C57BL/6 wild-type mice (Walter et al, J Clin Invest 110:165-175, 2002). We utilize SeV to explore the mechanism(s) by which a respiratory viral infection translates into postviral airway disease in mice. This chapter primarily describes the protocols we use to infect mice in vivo, assay viral replication, and assess outcomes in the lungs of the host.

High-Spatial-Resolution Nighttime Light Dataset Acquisition Based on Volunteered Passenger Aircraft Remote Sensing

Remotely sensed nighttime light (NTL) data provides an opportunity to observe human economic activities at night. However, existing NTL remote sensing data does not sufficiently reflect human activities at a fine resolution. In this study, we obtain a set of NTL data comprising volunteered passenger aircraft nighttime remote sensing (VPAN-RS) imagery by adopting a passenger plane as the remote sensing platform and using low-cost portable photography equipment as sensors. This method demonstrates the advantages of VPAN-RS data in high spatial resolution, frequent revisits, and low cost, which can supplement existing NTL data. The dataset acquired in this study covers 16 cities in China and one city in Japan, with a spatial resolution up to meter level. The data acquisition method and processing workflow are introduced in this article. Quality assessment shows that the reprojection error of the dataset falls within the range from 5–10 pixels, and the geometric error can be within 15 m. Via a comparison to reference data derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor of the Suomi-National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (NPP) polar-orbiting satellite, we found that the VPAN-RS data provides more details of city lighting. Additionally, the radiance of the VPAN-RS data suitably fits that of monthly composite NPP/VIIRS data. We further outline an application example of VPAN-RS nighttime imagery, examine the unique challenges associated with VPAN-RS data with a focus on the influence of the image acquisition method on the data quality, and provide an outlook for the future of VPAN-RS data. We conclude that VPAN-RS NTL images are an effective data source for nighttime earth observations and have the potential for various applications.

Factors Associated with Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation in Older Patients: A Population-Based Study Using Claims Data from Two Cities in Japan.

Although outpatient cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to be effective, the participation status of older cardiac patients is unclear in real-world settings. We investigated the proportion and associated factors of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participation among older patients with heart diseases after cardiac intervention. We analyzed data from medical and long-term care insurance claims data from two municipalities in Japan. The data coverage period was between April 2014 and March 2019 in City A and between April 2012 and November 2016 in City B. We identified patients aged ≥65 years with post-operative acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or heart valve disease. We estimated the proportion of cardiac rehabilitation participation and conducted logistic regression to identify factors (age, sex, type of cardiac disease, open-heart surgery, Charlson comorbidity index, long-term care need level, catecholamine use, inpatient cardiac rehabilitation, and hospital volume for cardiac rehabilitation) associated with outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participation. A total of 690 patients were included in this study. The proportion of patients receiving outpatient cardiac rehabilitation was 9.0% overall. Multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested that men (adjusted OR 3.98; 95% CI 1.69-9.37), acute myocardial infarction (adjusted OR 2.76; 95% CI 1.20-6.36; reference angina pectoris), inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (adjusted OR 17.01; 95% CI 5.33-54.24), and "hospital volume" for cardiac rehabilitation (adjusted OR 4.35; 95% CI 1.14-16.57 for high-volume hospitals; reference low-volume hospital) were independently associated with outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. The participation rate of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation among older post-operative cardiac patients was suboptimal. Further studies are warranted to examine its generalizability and whether a targeted approach to a group of patients who are less likely to receive outpatient cardiac rehabilitation could improve the participation rate.

COVID-19-Related Symptoms during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant Surge in Japan.

The exact profiles of the clinical symptoms related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) remain largely uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the clinical manifestations of infection with this variant. We enrolled individuals who were tested by quantitative nasopharyngeal swab reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test at a large screening center in a city of Japan during the B.1.1.529 Omicron variant wave between January and May 2022, after contact with COVID-19 patients. Swab tests were planned to be performed approximately 4-5 days after contact. The presence of COVID-19-related symptoms was assessed at the swab test site. Among the 2,507 enrolled individuals, 943 (37.6%) were RT-PCR test-positive and 1,564 (62.4%) were test-negative. Among the 943 PCR test-positive participants, the prevalence of the symptoms was as follows: 47.3% with cough, 32.9% with sore throat, 18.4% with fatigability, 12.7% with fever of ≥ 37.5℃, 9.9% with dyspnea, 2.1% with dysosmia, and 1.4% with dysgeusia. The prevalence of cough, sore throat, dyspnea, and fatigability was higher among adults aged ≥ 18 years than among children and adolescents. The prevalence of dysosmia and dysgeusia remarkably decreased during the Omicron wave (1-3%) compared to during the pre-Omicron variant waves (15-25%). In summary, common COVID-19-related symptoms during the Omicron variant wave included cough and sore throat, followed by fatigability, fever, and dyspnea. The prevalence of most of these symptoms was higher in adults than in non-adults. The prevalence of dysosmia and dysgeusia remarkably decreased with the Omicron variant than with pre-Omicron variants.

Sensitivity Study of X-Band Multiparametric SAR Data From Cabbage Fields

To make polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) accessible to mainstream applications, the true composition ratio of scattering mechanisms within a radar backscatter must be accurately identified. To validate polarimetric SAR decomposition techniques, a novel multiparametric SAR observation combined with a theoretical model simulation has been applied to rice paddies having simple vegetation structure on smooth and flat surfaces, where the surface scattering was small. In this article, cabbage fields in Miura city in Japan were selected as outdoor-grown vegetables, so the effect of exposed ground surfaces must be taken into account. In combination with the multiparametric SAR observation, a dominant scattering mechanism is reliably isolated through the theoretical characterization of the data by a discrete scatterer model (DSM). Suppressing unnecessary effects by row structures of the crop field, the volume scattering from cabbage leaves is identified as a dominant scattering mechanism over most incidence angles. On the other hand, the surface scattering is dominant for copolarizations only at small incidence angles. The analysis also indicates the possibility that greater soil moisture could be kept by roots of mature cabbages. To demonstrate the validation of polarimetric decomposition by the results, a popular three-component decomposition was applied to the observation. Differences between the decomposition and the simulation results were analytically explained by features of the backscatter from cabbage fields. Model-based polarimetric decompositions shall be improved through this approach.

The formation of the Korean communities in Fukuoka city after WWⅡ －focused on ‘black market’ and ‘barrack village’－

Among the large cities in Japan, the City of Fukuoka in Fukuoka Prefecture is the nearest city from Busan, Korea. From the colonial period, Fukuoka Prefecture had been the important labor market for Koreans due to scattered coal mine and munitions industry. The City of Fukuoka was a more commerce city than other places in Fukuoka Prefecture so that there is little room for Koreans who couldn’t compete with Japanese merchants and the city was not populated with Koreans. After the war, Hakata Port in Fukuoka was designated major repatriation port which made Fukuoka one of the most crowded city with Koreans and Japanese returnees. However, the waiting for repatriation not smooth and temporary residence became settlement with several reasons. During this period, they built ‘barrack village’ surrounding both banks of Ishido River, Naka River and near the port areas. And also, they were looking for jobs and food in black markets. Some of the residents of ‘barrack village’ run group dorms for the blue-collar workers, hired harbor workers, and worked mainly in the manufacture of illicit liquor, raising pigs, collecting waste articles and secondhand goods. These occupations were the representative jobs of Koreans in Japan(Zainichi) who worked at the lowest part of economic hierarchy. Since the early 1950s, the black market had disappeared and Koreans faced more desperate situation. Fukuoka’s ‘barrak village’ reflected such reality of Koreans in Japan who were in poor environment regardless the prosperity of the Japanese economy after the war. In addition, these slums were introduced to Korean society in the form of “disastrous reality of Koreans in Japan” and became the targets of ‘Korean bashing’ in Japan. On the other hand, ‘barrak village’ displayed the reality of the division of Korea Peninsula. The banks of the river are divided into Chongryon(총련) and Mindan(민단). Residents who supported Chongryon were very zctive for demolitiond and relocation of ‘barrak village’ from earlier stage. And as a result, they were able to move out of ‘barrak village’ and settled in a new neighborhood in the 1960s. So-called ‘Kanehira Complex’ had become a representative place which showed the life styles and political characters of Koreans in Japan of Fukuoka. Since the complex was formed around Chongryon, it showed a clear tendency to use Korean lanuage and expressd its political views and actions. The development and relocation of other ‘barrak villages’ took more than a decade, because the interests and opinions of the residents of the villagers were different. However, as the political environment between the two Koreas and the generation changes, the characteristics of the complex vary according to the periods. This reflects the reality of ethnic groups whose attributes eventually fade over time.

Factors Related to the Care Management Practice for Old Public Assistance Recipients in Osaka City of Japan

The research was conducted between January 22 and February 25, 2021. The data was collected by self-administered questionnaires mailed to the participants at 800 care management centers and comprehensive community support centers in Osaka City. The centers were randomly selected. The response rate was 19.1%. The independent variables were: obtaining the qualification of a Senior Care Manager (SCM), who was a qualified person that acquired advanced knowledge and skills in care management by advanced training; experience years in Social Work (SW); experience years in care management; experiences in training programs for team approach; and experiences in training programs for supporting Old Public Assistance Recipients (OPAR). The dependent variables were the categorized contents in the Care Management Practice for old public assistance recipients. They were: Care planning and Implementation (CI); Assessment; Financial Support and Evaluation (FSE); Contract and Explanations in care management; Coordinating Informal support and Formal services in Care planning; and Arrangements in Financial supports for Formal service costs. The Structural Equation Modeling was performed for the examinations of the relationships. As a result, the goodness of the fit indices was acceptable, and we retained the models. In correlational analyses, CI and Assessment were significantly correlated with SCM (p<.05). FSE was significantly correlated with SW (p<.001) and OPAR (p<.05). In conclusion, the results implied that advanced qualification of a Senior Care Manager and a specified training program for supporting old public assistance recipients were effective in providing appropriate care management services.

A Study on the Financial Management System of Local Governments - Focusing on the Cases of Yubari city in Japan -

최근 우리나라는 수도권으로의 인구집중화 현상이 심화되고 있다. 고령화 및 저출산 사회라는 문제점 뿐만 아니라, 인구 역시 수도권으로 이동하고 있다. 이는 바꾸어 말하면, 수도권 이외의 지방자치단체들은 인구의 유출이라는 문제에 대한 대안을 마련해야 한다는 것이다. 왜냐하면 수도권으로의 인구유출은 지방재정을 열악하게 하는 원인이기도 하기 때문이다. 또한 지방재정이 열악해지면, 지방자치단체의 존립을 우려해야 할 상황이 발생할 가능성도 존재한다. 이러한 문제는 각 지방자치단체의 책임에만 맡길 것이 아니라, 국가 역시 지방자치단체의 재정건전화를 위해 필요한 행위를 해야 하며, 이로써 헌법상 실질적 지방자치제가 보장 될 것이다. 그 방안의 하나로서 2014년에 지방자치단체 파산제도의 도입에 관한 논의가 있었다. 하지만, 실제 지방자치단체 파산제도가 도입되지는 않았으며, 수도권으로의 인구집중화로 인해 지방자치단체의 재정위기는 현재도 진행되고 있다. 본 논문은 이러한 문제점을 인식하고, 국가가 지방자치단체의 존립보장 및 활성화를 위해 어떠한 행위를 해야할지에 대한 제도론적 고찰을 논의의 대상으로 하여 살펴보기로 한다. 그 방법으로써 일본 유바리시의 사례를 중점적으로 살펴보기로 한다. 일본 유바리시에 대한 소개는 국내에도 다수 문헌에서 행해지고 있다. 유바리시와 같은 사례는 우리나라에서도 충분히 발생할 수 있기 때문에, 본 논문에서는 그 현황을 보다 자세히 살펴보는 것에 집중했다. 일반적으로 지방자치단체의 회계가 타당하지 않은 경우, 주민들이 이에 대한 문제제기를 할 수 있다. 하지만, 유바리시의 경우 주민들이 그러한 회계상황을 알기 어려운 상황에 있었다. 결국 주민자치에 의해 해결될 수 없는 부분은 국가의 관리감독이 필요하다는 것이다. 이러한 관리감독은 법치행정의 성격에 비추어 법률에 그 규정을 마련하여 행해야 한다. 이러한 법치행정이 행해지지 않는 경우, 지방자치단체에 대한 관리라는 미명 하에 국가에 의한 강도 높은 통제가 행해질 수 있기 때문이다. 유바리시의 사례로부터 얻을 수 있는 시사점은 국가에 의해 지방자치단체가 관리되는 경우, 지방자치단체의 채무감소라는 수치에 집중할 것이 아니라, 당해 지역에 거주하고 있는 주민들의 삶의 질과 행정서비스를 기준으로 채무변제기간 등을 설정해야 한다는 것이다. 이로써 주민들의 균형있는 행정서비스의 향유와 지방자치단체의 건전한 재정관리 양자를 모두 달성하게 될 것이다.

Monthly direct and indirect greenhouse gases emissions from household consumption in the major Japanese cities

Urban household consumption contributes substantially to global greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Urban household emissions encompass both direct and indirect emissions, with the former associated with the direct use of fossil fuels and the latter with the emissions embodied in the consumed goods and services. However, there is a lack of consistent and comprehensive datasets outlining in great detail emissions from urban household consumption. To bridge this data gap, we construct an emission inventory of urban household emissions for 52 major cities in Japan that covers around 500 emission categories. The dataset spans from January 2011 to December 2015 and contains 12,384 data records for direct emissions and 1,543,128 records for indirect emissions. Direct emission intensity is provided in g-CO2/JPY to facilitate both future studies of household emission in Japan, as well as act as a reference for the development of detailed household emission inventories in other countries.