Civil Society

December 7, 2005

 

Government Releases Results of Survey on Regional Revitalization

Keywords: Civil Society / Local Issues Government Others 

In July, 2005, the Japanese government's Cabinet Office released the results of a questionnaire survey on regional revitalization conducted from June 9 to 19. The survey questioned 3,000 adults nationwide, of whom 1,551 (51.7 percent) responded.

When asked if their community is lively, 44.8 percent of respondents disagreed, exceeding the 39.1 percent of respondents who agreed. The major reasons for these negative perceptions were: decline in the number of children and youth in the community (61.0 percent); less crowded downtown areas and shopping streets (50.8 percent); decline of local industries (40.3 percent); shrinking population in the community (29.8 percent).

The questionnaire also asked what measures respondents expected would revitalize their community. The most common response was 'crime and disaster prevention that allows residents to continue to live in their community without worrying (48.1 percent),' followed by 'improvement of medical and welfare services that help various generations live together (41.3 percent),' 'measures to invigorate the central urban area, such as revitalization of commercial districts and improvement of the residential environment in urban areas (32.2 percent),' and 'improvement of roads, parks and other living environments, as well as industrial infrastructure development (29.3 percent).'

Asked if they would be willing to participate in some kind of activity to make their community vibrant, 58.6 percent of respondents replied that they would like to participate in such activities if given the chance, demonstrating a positive attitude toward community service. As for systematic proposals, such as those adopted in a special zone program for structural reform and a regional revitalization program, 60.3 percent of respondents said that the government should make more effort to inform the public of such systems.



Posted: 2005/12/07 09:54:29 AM
Japanese version

 

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