jailcd2019-036: Shrinking Cities in Japan: Identifying Patterns of Urban Shrinkage in Fukuoka Prefecture through History Legacies, Policies, and Governance

Abstract

This paper presents article about the effort to reduce urban shrinkage in Japanese Context. In recent years,  many Japanese cities have experienced urban  shrinkage  (population  decline). This phenomenon lead us  towards a wealth of research about growing cities, policy responses to shrinking cities, particularly in relation  between historical legacy and the declining cities in several cities in Japan. This paper explores the transfer  and the idea and whether some Japanese cities in decline constitute a Japanese-specific version of this global  phenomenon, combining industrialization waves, socio-economic, and demographic transition. The aim of this  paper is to see the governance responses to shrinkage in national context of Japan. Besides, this article also  investigates the factor behind urban decline within Fukuoka Prefecture as considered shrinking in Japan.  Fukuoka’s decline is particularly affecting its distant suburbs, in which depopulation and devitalization are  associated with rapid changing of its remaining residents in addition to the decline in economy based in Kyushu. While several historical legacies and actors of government within the public and private have responded to  depopulation by  creating  local  policies,  in  the  other  level,  there  are  gaps  between  Fukuoka  and  other  prefectures views on strategies to address this phenomenon, as well as the cities and suburbs within regions.  This gaps suggest urban shrinkage regional governance and coordination for regional solutions.