Local Governments In Japan Research Articles

Exploring fluctuations in citizen engagement on a local government Facebook page in Japan

The Tsukuba Civic Activities Cyber-Square is a Facebook page managed by a local government in Japan that has over 2000 followers including various civil society organizations and individuals that are oriented towards civic activities. This study explored how various functions of government elevate the civil society Facebook page engagement and how latent dysfunctions of government operations inadvertently depress engagement. This study analyzed the results of two field experiments to promote this online community page from 2012 through 2013 and also conducted three interviews among local government workers involved in online community management of the page. This study determined that the different stages of growth can be attributed to a blend of periodic social gatherings and paid advertisements. Social gatherings were found to be more beneficial for “engagement” that affected the initial and continuous growth and promotion of online engagement in the early and later stages of this community.

지진 및 지진해일 발생 시 지방자치단체의 업무연속성 확보를 위한 기초 연구

In this study, the theoretical review was carried out on the concepts regarding the continuity of operation plan and business continuity management plan, international standard ISO22301 and common required functions for disaster response, and the business continuity guideline of local governments in Japan and establishment cases were analyzed to draw matters to be reflected for establishing the business continuity plan of local governments according to the occurrence of earthquake and tsunami. In conclusion, the standard guideline of central government should be prepared for establishing the business continuity plan of local governments and the foundation to establish the plan smoothly based on such guideline should be provided. Also, the business continuity plan should be prepared based on the previous established safety management plans by reflecting the regional characteristics of local governments. And, in order to establish the business continuity plan that fits the region, proper investigations can be carried out to examine the characteristics of each organizations, resources, facilities and environments. Lastly, detailed scenario on the scale of earthquake and tsunami occurrence and damages is prepared to establish the business continuity plan of local governments and conditions for prompt countermeasures according to the scale.

P24 The role of mobility for aging society in Japanese local area

BackgroundThe rate of the elderly population in Japan is the top-level in the world. While an elderly aged 75 and over increases in recent years, the policy for extending their health expectancy is required. In order to maintain a sustainable living at the place, a medical service, shopping, a locomotor, nutrition, and social participation are important. And it can consider the maintenance of a mobility option also including social capital. However, in a lot of local areas, advantage of an automobile is a precondition, and the mobility for medical-service, shopping and living support is a main issue. MethodsIn this topic, it is investigated mobility and health promotion surveys for some local areas where the aging progressed in Hyogo, Japan. the relevance is analyzed between elderly mobility and living environment by using the survey. And it is focused on a role of mobility in the promotion of social participation by or infrastructure improvement for the elderly. ResultsMany elderly people drive their own car or are driven by others. And the user of optional bus or transport is a minority (there is little supply). As the character, there are also many driving (sending) by household and family. A single elderly is used about the alternative tool of own car. Those who hardly go out (N=190) has walking-difficulty (N=165). Those who hardly go out (N=181) are not participated in the health promotion class (N=146) in their living area. Walking difficulty has a restrictive in an access of a bus stop, and they cannot use it even if develops a bus. The total amount of special transport is small in Japanese local area. ConclusionsMany healthy elders are people who drive an automobile by themselves. Their mobility level is high and their social participation is also frequent. However, if cognitively impaired and frail elders increase in number, driving will be difficult and these problem will interfere with everyday mobility. If driving is impossible, personal mobility problems occur, and it will lead to be faced with the sustainable problem in the regional place. These should be recognized as a new problem of preventive health care for the elderly. It would like to be argued about the elderly policy, the role of mobility, and the production of a community of a local government in Japan.

被害想定のための道路網データに基づく下水道管路の分布推定

Damage estimation for scenario earthquakes is extensively conducted by local governments in Japan for emergency response planning. However, local governments usually do not possess detailed grid data of lifeline systems with pipe material, diameter and length’s information in the grid cell of GIS. The accuracy of lifeline's mesh data is considered to be highly related to the accuracy of damage assessment results. Therefore, to improve the accuracy of earthquake damage assessment, a correlation analysis is carried out to estimate the sewer pipeline length within a grid cell of 250 m from the corresponding road network's GIS data for Urayasu city, Chiba prefecture, Japan. The equation to estimate the sewer pipeline length is examined by using the actual pipelines’ GIS data, and the efficiency of estimation from the road data. Using the data from Kashiwazaki city, Niigata prefecture, the accuracy of the method developed for Urayasu city was examined and its accuracy was demonstrated.

地方公共団体における行政刊行物の管理・保存

地方公共団体における行政刊行物の管理・保存

Moral competence questionnaire for public health nurses in Japan: scale development and psychometric validation.

To develop a valid and reliable self-assessment questionnaire that can be easily used by public health nurses in Japan to measure their moral competence. A self-administered questionnaire that included the preliminary Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses and demographics was distributed to public health nurses who worked at local governments in Japan. Exploratory factor analysis for the Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses from 3493 responses (31.9%) revealed 15 items loading on three factors: (1i) judgment based on the values of community members; (ii) strong will to face difficult situations; and (iii) cooperating with relevant people/organizations. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that this model has a reasonable fit to the data. Cronbach's alphas ranged 0.85-0.91. The construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses were supported. This questionnaire reflected the characteristics of Japan's public health nursing practice and it may be used to assess current moral practice and need for continuing education. However, this questionnaire needs additional internal validity testing and possible item development. Additional research is needed to refine this scale and increase the possibility of generalizability.

U-shaped associations between time in bed and the physical and mental functioning of Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family, behavioral and sleep quality characteristics

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate (i) whether work, family, behavioral and sleep quality characteristics differ among individuals with different time in bed (TIB), and (ii) whether and how much the U-shaped associations between TIB and health can be explained by these characteristics. MethodsParticipants were 3510 employees (2371 males and 1139 females) aged 20–65 years working in local government in Japan. They completed a questionnaire regarding work, family, and behavioral characteristics. Sleep quality and physical and mental functioning were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Short Form 36. ResultsHigh job demands, long work hours, and high work–family conflict were more prevalent among those with short TIB. Those with long TIB had daily drinking habits. Whereas those with short TIB had poor sleep, mainly due to poor subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction, those with long TIB had poor sleep, mainly due to long sleep latency, poor sleep efficiency and sleep disturbances. The U-shaped associations between TIB and poor physical and mental health, with the best health observed in those spending ~8 h in bed, weakened considerably after adjustment for sleep quality, followed by work and family characteristics. After adjusting for behavioral characteristics and long-standing illnesses, the associations hardly changed. ConclusionsThe U-shaped associations between TIB and health may be explained by U-shaped associations between TIB and poor sleep and psychosocial stress in work and family life.

Local Governments in Japan and Roles Played in Sino-Japanese Relations

The potential roles played by local governments in Japan regarding Sino-Japanese relations are often neglected. Drawing upon a few representative case studies by highlighting the interaction between local and international politics, the article aims at analyzing the possible impacts of Japan’s local governments on Sino-Japanese relations in the future. First, it reviews the theoretical framework of sub-national or paradiplomacy and the relevant literature on Japan’s local governments in such framework. Second, through showing how their local leaders attempted to pursue local or personal interests by taking Sino-Japanese relations as hostage, it uses four local governments in Japan that have peculiar interaction with China as case studies. Finally, it previews some patterns as derived from the cases, in order to draw some implications for both Tokyo and Beijing.

On the Japanese Local Corporation Tax (Act) as a Means to Reduce Fiscal Disparities and Fiscal Inequality between Local Governments in Japan.

On the Japanese Local Corporation Tax (Act) as a Means to Reduce Fiscal Disparities and Fiscal Inequality between Local Governments in Japan.

Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in job dissatisfaction among Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family and personality characteristics.

: This study examines (1) whether there are employment grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction and (2) whether work, family, and personality characteristics explain grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction. The participants were 3,812 civil servants, aged 20–65, working at a local government in Japan. In both males and females, low control, low social support, work-to-family conflict, type A behaviour pattern and negative affectivity were significantly associated with job dissatisfaction. In females, high demands, long work hours and being unmarried were also associated with job dissatisfaction. Among males, in comparison with the highest grade employees, the age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for job dissatisfaction in the lowest grade employees was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.40–2.59). The grade differences reduced to 1.08 (0.76–1.54) after adjustment for work, family and personality characteristics. Among females, similar grade differences were observed, although the differences were not statistically significant. In comparison with males, the age-adjusted OR in females for job dissatisfaction was 1.32 (1.14–1.52). This gender difference was reduced to 0.95 (0.79–1.14) following adjustment for the other factors. The majority of employees belong to low to middle grades, and female employees have increased. Reducing grade and gender differences in work and family characteristics is needed.

New Public Management of Local Government in Japan: An Action Study

The move to apply management methods for business to the operations of local governments dates back to the late 1970s, when such attempts were hailed under the name of New Public Management (NPM)...

複数生産物モデルによる地方公共団体の生産構造分析

複数生産物モデルによる地方公共団体の生産構造分析

Community-Based Interventions to Improve HPV Vaccination Coverage among 13- to 15-Year-Old Females: Measures Implemented by Local Governments in Japan

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of various community-based interventions in support of HPV vaccination implemented by cities and towns within Tochigi prefecture, Japan with a view to identifying useful indicators which might guide future interventions to improve HPV vaccination coverage in the prefecture. A postal questionnaire survey of all 27 local governments in Tochigi Prefecture was conducted in December 2010. All 27 responded, and 22 provided the exact numbers of the targeted and vaccinated populations of 13- to 15-year-old girls from April to December 2010. The local governments also answered questions on the type of interventions implemented including public subsidies, school-based programs, direct mail, free tickets and recalls. Local governments that conducted a school-based vaccination program reported 96.8% coverage for the 1st dose, 96.2% for the 2nd dose, and 91.2% for the 3rd dose. Those that provided subsidies without school-based programs reported a wide range of vaccination rates: 45.7%–95.0% for the 1st dose, 41.1%–93.7% for the 2nd dose and 3.1%–90.1% for the 3rd dose. Among this group, the combination of a free ticket, direct mail and recall was most effective, with 95.0% coverage for the 1st dose, 93.7% for the 2nd dose, and 90.1% for the 3rd dose. The governments that did not offer a subsidy had the lowest vaccination coverage, with 0.8%–1.4% for the 1st dose, 0.0%–0.8% for the 2nd dose, and 0.1%–0.1% for the 3rd dose. The results of this survey indicate that school-based vaccinations and public subsidies are the most effective method to improve HPV vaccination coverage; however, the combination of a free ticket, direct mail, and recalls with public subsidies are also important measures in increasing the vaccination rate. These data may afford important indicators for the successful implementation of future HPV vaccination programs.

아시아의 경관계획제도 비교 및 경관교육 추진

This study is to compare and analyze the current status of landscape planning system in Korea and Japan by establishing the landscape database utilizing geographic information system(GIS). Specifically, landscape laws and their ordinances enacted in Korea and Japan and their implementation cases were compared to identify the characteristics. As of December 1, 2010, landscape administrative bodies are composed of 472 local governments in Japan while as of March 1, 2010, they are 83 local governments in Korea. The landscape laws in Korea and Japan have a similar structure overall. However, there are no supplementary provision and penal provision in the Korean landscape law whereas there is landscape district provision in the Japanese landscape law. The results of this study would be used as a base for building up the landscape planning and policy in the East Asian region.

GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EXPENDITURE IN THE RENT‐SEEKING INDUSTRY: THE CASE OF JAPAN FOR 1998–2004

Since the end of the 1990s, local governments in Japan have enacted Information Disclosure Ordinances, which require the disclosure of official government information. This article uses Japanese prefecture‐level data for the period 1998–2004 to examine how this enactment affected the rate of government construction expenditure. The Dynamic Panel model is used to control for unobserved prefecture‐specific effects and endogenous bias. The major finding is that disclosure of government information reduces the rate of government construction expenditure. This implies that information disclosure reduces losses from rent‐seeking activity, which is consistent with public choice theory. (JEL D73, D78, H79)

Agent-Based Simulation of Residential Promoting Policy Effects on Downtown Revitalization

In recent decades, compact cities have become a new concern in urban planning in most Japanese cities. The main reason for this trend among Japanese cities is the phenomenon of de-urbanization and downtown decline that gradually occurred after the 1990s. As such, at present, there are dispersed, small, built-up portions of suburban areas that have resulted in household mobility outside the downtown. Therefore, some local governments in Japan are attempting to realize compact cities through policy intervention, such as encouraging households to relocate from suburban to downtown areas in order to address the population decline in urban areas. Recently, one such residential policy have been promoted by Japanese local city governments. By offering a local housing allowance, this policy encourages households to relocate to downtown areas. We developed an agent-based household residential relocation model (HRRM) to visualize the effect of this residential policy, that is, the local housing allowance. The HRRM is built on householdsAo adaptive behaviours and interactions through housing relocation choices and policy attitudes, and so it can simulate the diversified residential relocations of households in various lifecycle stages. Through simulation using the HRRM, the effectiveness of this residential policy can be visualized, and the HRRM will help local governments to understand the effects of residential policies.

自治体版CASBEEによる評価実績に関する調査研究

CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency), developed by the Japan Sustainable Building Consortium, is now being widely used in 24 local government in Japan, since it was first introduced in to the green building policy of Nagoya city in 2004. To learn the current status of CASBEE by local governments, this report investigates the evaluation results of local versions of CASBEE in Nagoya city, Osaka city, Yokohama city, and Kyoto prefecture. From various statistical analyses and comparison, characteristics of evaluation results of the 4 local versions of CASBEE have been shown.

Local government broadband policies for areas with limited Internet access

Despite their wide diffusion in developed countries, broadband services are still limited in areas where providing them is not profitable for private telecom carriers. To address this, many local governments in Japan have implemented broadband deployment projects subsidized by the national government. In this paper, we discuss local government broadband policies based on survey data collected from municipalities throughout the country. With the support of national promotion policies, broadband services were rapidly introduced to most local municipalities in Japan during the 2000s. Local government deployment policies helped to reduce the number of areas with no broadband access. A business model based on the Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) contract between a private telecom carrier and a local government has been developed in recent years. Even local governments without the technical capacity to operate a broadband business can introduce broadband services into their territory using the IRU business model.

Quest for an Effective and Efficient Local Government: Local Government in Japan and Policy Implication for Local Government in Bangladesh

The aim of this paper is to identify the actors and factors which are important for effective and efficient functioning of local government. With a view to presenting the features of local government Japan has been selected as case for the study, in terms of legal authority, political parties, negotiation in budget process, inter-transfer of officials and decentralization of more power to local government, authority and process of recruitment, training of personnel, financial autonomy and transparency and ratio of revenue to be spent by the local government. The problems of local government in Bangladesh are also identified in relation to the above factors and some policies are recommended to resolve them.

EFFICIENT EXTRACTION METHOD OF THE CHANGE OF BUILDINGS FOR FIXED PROPERTY INVESTIGATION

Abstract. In order to appraise fixed property, local governments in Japan annually investigate taxable buildings on January 1, but the efficiency of the investigation is an issue. With this context, change extraction methods of buildings have been studied using various data. However, labor and time optimization for change extraction methods remains an issue. With this in mind, the authors have concentrated on developing a change extraction method for buildings that uses only photomaps of two separate times. This paper describes the extraction method using color and texture, which can be obtained from photomaps. In order to evaluate effectiveness, the proposed method was investigated using photomaps of two separate times on various locations. It was confirmed that the proposed method extracted the changed buildings. It was also verified that the change of buildings cannot be extracted by color information only; rather, the change extraction of buildings was accomplished by using both color and texture. It should be noted that all changed buildings include extracted regions so that the change extraction of buildings is effectively performed without oversights. The proposed method could extract all changed buildings. In conclusion, the proposed method can reduce over-extraction of changed buildings by intensively visually checking extracted regions that have changes in color or texture rather than by visually checking all regions of photomaps. It is concluded that the proposed method has the ability to effectively extract changed buildings by using only photomaps.