著者

枝川 明敬

出版者

日本地域学会

雑誌

地域学研究 (ISSN:02876256)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.46, no.4, pp.355-370, 2016

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<p>The reconstruction of local communities, including how to deal with problems of depopulation, has always been a major political issue in Japan. In order to tackle this issue, the government embarked on a "regional revitalization" project. The "Grand Design of National Spatial Development towards 2050," the core of Japan's national planning efforts, and the cultural strategy "Plan for the Revival of an Energetic Japan through Culture and Art" make it necessary to "foster an attachment toward the local community and make the best of the lifestyle and culture of the community, which are supported by tradition and creativity." Amid globalization in various areas and for regional revitalization and reconstruction, regional cultural activities can improve the creativity and energy of local communities and such regional cultural activities can become the source of regional revitalization.</p><p> I have studied folk cultural properties that have taken root in local communities almost every year since 2010, and previously discussed the situations of their conservation and extinction. During this process, I examined spontaneous development, in which folk cultural assets lead to regional identity and industrial and cultural resources unique to each region lead to citizen-driven development of local communities. This research is an extension of these surveys, and involves a nationwide sampling survey of high quality amateur and professional activities that have been subsidized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and arts/culture development funds, carried out in 2014. The 190 amateur activities and 216 professional activities were compared in relation to migration and financial situations of local governments. As a result, I revealed that local governments that face depopulation or financial difficulties promote cultural activities more avidly. In 23 prefectures, which account for two thirds of the prefectures with a population of approximately 3 million, local cultural activities were initiated by the prefectural government. However, the national government's new subsidy through the "Communities, Sages & Jobs" policy, started from fiscal year 2016 to revitalize local communities, is expected to be ill-fitting for the actual conditions of the communities and not become a subsidy for cultural activities, because subsidies are small and include evaluation taxes that are unsuitable for cultural activities.</p><p>JEL Classification:H54, R51, R53, Z11</p>