A Study of Rural Regeneration Resonating in Aso and Kuma: Perspectives from Around 2002

A Study of Rural Regeneration Resonating in Aso and Kuma: Perspectives from Around 2002

Around 2002, Japan's rural population was declining and aging, and the increase in abandoned farmland was a serious problem. Especially in the mid-mountainous areas, there was a notable shortage of farmers, making it difficult to maintain and manage farmland and leading to the decline of local communities. Against this backdrop, "special zones for structural reform" were introduced to revitalize regions through deregulation.

In this special zone, land use regulations were relaxed to allow non-farmers to acquire farmland, and urban residents were allowed to participate. It also facilitated the opening of farmer's inns and introduced a mechanism for outsourcing public facilities to the private sector, thereby promoting the influx of people from outside the region. The goal was to promote green tourism, which would create a new source of income for the region by increasing the number of people interacting with urban residents through their stay in rural areas and their experience of farming and nature. Furthermore, by developing a system of local production for local consumption and promoting the use of local agricultural products, the project aimed to strengthen the foundation of a sustainable local economy through a fusion of agriculture and tourism.

At the time, society was increasingly interested in "healing" and "slow life," and exchanges between urban and rural areas were attracting attention. The Aso and Kuma special zone concept had great significance as a challenging model for revitalizing rural communities in danger of decline, using nature and culture as resources, and was an initiative that attracted nationwide attention.