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2023 | Buch

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Toward Sustainable Regions

Essays in Honor of Kiyoko Hagihara

herausgegeben von: Chisato Asahi, Noriko Horie

Verlag: Springer Nature Singapore

Buchreihe : New Frontiers in Regional Science: Asian Perspectives

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book deals with regional sustainability, which is one of the biggest issues in Japan today, and presents suggested methods and cases to show how regional management should be carried out. Today, regions in Japan are facing long-term global challenges such as changes in climate and in international relations, as well as regional financial difficulties due to depopulation and aging. Additional causes are the decline of traditional culture and community sustainability, the crisis of public services, inner- and inter-regional disparities, disaster response, and other local and region-specific issues that are intricately related. To meet the challenge of those issues, local actors must deal with the regional issues themselves and solve them in cooperation with various other stakeholders. From this perspective, the book exhibits regional management frameworks, focusing especially on evaluation, decision making, and aid in multi-dimensional approaches, and examines case studies for making regions sustainable by allowing diverse actors to realize diverse values and standards in cooperation. The chapters cover a wide range of disciplines, including urban science, economics, geography, landscape, real estate, and public finance, which makes it possible to shed light on a particular region.

This book comprises a collection of essays celebrating the life and work of Kiyoko Hagihara, honorary professor of the Graduate School of Urban Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan. Essay contributors include her former students as well as regional scientists with similar interests.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Greening in Vacant Lots and Regional Community in Urban Area

Abstract

This chapter was to verify resident’s consciousness about advantageous effects of vacant lot in urban area. In the area people have close contact with neighbors, group territory is built up. Residents think of vacant lot as one’s own space in the area. I verified the hypothesis which resident’s consciousness about advantageous effects of vacant lot is increased. Further, I focus on the function as a green space and consider issues about control of maintenance. As the result, it was found that residents recognize differences in the utility value and existence value. It has possibilities that residents in group territory think vacant lots have high utilization effect. Their relationship between attributes of residents and group territory was explored. It was indicated that resident’s regional action and aggressiveness and consciousness of activity make territory group. Green space is the highest demand for vacant lot. Residents desire for participation in regional maintenance of greenery and flower. Meanwhile, residents who have a desire for participation in maintenance tend to have affections for region. Environmental arrangement and maintenance connects to condition of regional community.

The results show that participation in maintenance for vacant lot is a sense of meaning as regional community. It is necessary to consider regional community to receive the effect of vacant lot and utilization.

Shogo Mizukami

Chapter 2. Challenges of a Large Park that Can Be Seen in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case of Hitachi Seaside Park

Abstract

This study explored the issues faced by large park facilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of open public spaces has become more important than ever during the pandemic. Many national parks were shut down during the COVID-19 scourge, and it is necessary to find out the direction in which the park will continue to open from the aspect of the park’s expectations for the COVID-19 pandemic and the aspect of the park’s survival.

We studied the Hitachi Seaside Park, which is managed by the state and serves two important purposes: as a tourist destination and as an open green space. As a tourist facility, the park represents Ibaraki Prefecture and has a great ability to attract visitors. However, the park was shut down as soon as it was categorized under “unnecessary and unurgent” services. The park has another very fulfilling function as an open space with lush greenery, but there is a challenge in working toward the outside of the park. To address this issue, it is necessary to improve the freely accessible areas of the park and actively disseminate its value.

Such a large park should continue to operate not only during the COVID-19 pandemic but also in peacetime or during a disaster, and it is important to allow these spaces to serve their purpose, not only as tourist destinations but also as healthy green open spaces.

Yoshinori Ida, Noriko Horie

Chapter 3. Supporting Organisations for Social Enterprises: Focus on Fundraising

Abstract

Social enterprises can be regarded as a new model of modern non-profit organisations (NPOs). They are working to challenge and untangle the various social obstacles we face today, such as issues relating to the environment, well-being, inequality of educational opportunities, and disparity in income distribution. Although prompt action must be taken to overcome these challenges, governments alone cannot find answers in a satisfactory manner, so social enterprises have recently stepped in and are shifting the boundaries. To accomplish their various targets from the viewpoint of sustainability, they need to earn money by generating their own business. They also need to receive contributions or investments to continue their activities. Many start-up social enterprises struggle to obtain resources such as manpower, contributions, and grants. As a support organisation for fundraising, non-profit organisations and commercial organisations can be considered. The former includes NPO banks, Shinkin Banks, community banks, etc., and the latter crowdfunding, etc. In addition, analysis support using financial data from the viewpoint of management is also necessary to improve the business management capacity of supporting organisations.

In this chapter, we examine the function of the intermediate support organisation on fundraising. Social finance utilises private capital and contributes to solving social and environmental issues. In considering cases of venture philanthropy in Japan and issues of sustainable management for citizen funds, hints taken from the idea of actors and tools by Salamon’s proposal, diversification of fund procurement sources, and ingenuity to procurement methods are important. How to build empathy for the mission of social enterprises and fund providers is an issue that needs to be solved. For future intermediate support organisations in Japan, it is necessary to enhance and strengthen the function to support not only the current function—but also intermediary functions—and to foster and develop social enterprises.

Fumiko Kimura, Kiyoko Hagihara, Noriko Horie, Chisato Asahi

Chapter 4. Changes in the Electricity Market and the Emergence of Regional Energy Business in Japan: Toward the Realization of a Comprehensive Supply Scheme for Local Public Services

Abstract

This paper introduces the current status and characteristics of regional energy projects in Japan and examines the possibility of a Japanese version of “Stadtwerke.” Approximately 100 new regional electric power companies have been created since the electricity market was liberalized. As urban residents and businesses have switched their contracts to these new power companies, the share of “electricity sold by new power companies” now accounts for 30% of the total electricity sold in Japan.

Most new electric power companies specialize in retail electricity. Still, a few have entered the market from other industries, such as gas, public facility management, waste disposal, tourism, and water supply. Among the new regional power companies are municipal power companies established with investment from local governments. Many of them have been located in rural areas. The percentage of local government investment varies, and there is a variety of investments from local governments, the private sector, and mixed types. Some of the new regional electric companies are actively promoting renewable energy and are expected to play a leading role in the diffusion of renewable energy. However, several operators do not sell to ordinary households (citizens), and there are other issues to be addressed involving raising awareness among citizens and contributing to the local economic circulation.

Yoriko Tsuchiya

Chapter 5. The Institutional Design of a Comprehensive Supply Scheme for Sustainable Local Public Services: Theoretical Considerations and Case Study of Stadtwerke

Abstract

For the sustainability of a region with a declining population, the maintenance, renewal, and operation of regional infrastructure and public services to make them sustainable have become an important issue against the background of a weakening regional economic structure and tight public finances. In recent years, the realization of multidimensional and inclusive social values, as represented by the SDGs, has been recognized as a requirement for sustainability. Moreover, efforts are being made to maximize the social value of local resources through public–private partnerships and area management for the supply of local public services. Regarding new supply schemes for local public services, some seek economies of scale for a single service, as typified by the wide-area development of projects, and others comprehensively supply multiple services, such as some forms of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and comprehensive partnership agreements.

This chapter examines a theoretical model that allows for the assessment of social welfare in relation to a comprehensive supply scheme to reconcile the dual goals of public value and efficient operation. Concerning the efficiency of a multiple-service supply scheme, a case is assumed in which the government outsources the supply of multiple services to private companies through public–private partnerships, and a contract theory framework focusing on agency costs and business risks among transaction costs is examined. These theoretical results are examined qualitatively through two rounds of Stadtwerke surveys.

Chisato Asahi, Yoriko Tsuchiya

Chapter 6. Evaluation of the Educational Role of Urban Facilities and Their Contribution to Regional Sustainability

Abstract

The challenges of a super-aging society with a decreasing population must be addressed if regional sustainability is to be ensured. The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lists 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covering a broad range of challenges. While education is the focus of one of the SDGs, the targets and indicators only take formal school-based education into account. A range of other facilities within cities may contribute to sustainability by providing educational experiences and these contributions need to be better assessed.

Many social systems and services rely on urban facilities that support their activities. Urban facilities often have broad functions as shared property in a community, in addition to their intended functions. Questionnaire surveys of water treatment facilities and waste treatment facilities showed that many facilities play crucial roles in promotion of education. Urban facilities have been shown to function in ways similar to museums, and the significance of such museum-like functions is as follows: (1) they serve as venue for disaster prevention education and environmental education for citizens; (2) they convey local memories and lessons learned from ancestors and history; (3) they provide a place and context for communication between citizens and urban facility managers.

Noriko Horie, Kiyoko Hagihara, Fumiko Kimura, Chisato Asahi

Chapter 7. A Study on the Economic Evaluation of Public Facilities: Regional Utilisation Other than Intended Purposes of School Facilities

Abstract

Local governments are promoting plans for the integration and reconstruction of public facilities.

About 40% of the public facilities are made up of elementary and junior high school-related facilities. A school is a facility for implementing compulsory education services. Therefore, it can be said that there is little room to show the difference in utility depending on the choice. However, school facilities are used for purposes other than those intended, including social education, sports promotion, elections, as a shelter during disasters and emergencies, etc. For many of these extra uses, usage varies depending on the maintenance status of the school facilities. This study aims to theoretically examine the facility evaluation method to construct an evaluation method for public facility reorganisation. First, we organise the basic concept for evaluating the benefits of public facilities. Second, we organise the perspectives of the value analysis of public facilities. Third, we consider how to evaluate the use of school facilities for purposes other than compulsory education services. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the use of elementary school facilities and estimated their benefits using the discrete choice model.

Toshihide Matsumura, Chisato Asahi

Chapter 8. Land Value Differences Based on Approach Methodologies: Analysis Using Land Market Value Publications in Tokyo

Abstract

There are three basic approaches to appraise the value of real estate: the cost approach, sales comparison approach, and income capitalisation approach. These approaches help ascertain the value of a certain real estate, and the values of each approach should match if applied appropriately. However, in real estate appraisal, the appraised value of each approach can sometimes be different, and the degree of difference depends on the location or characteristics of the real estate property.

In this paper, using the Land Market Value Publication appraisal reports from 2019 to 2021, we analyse the impact of area-specific value factors and property-specific value factors on land value appraised by the sales comparison approach and the income capitalisation approach. We also evaluate the impact of area-specific and property-specific value factors on the degree of the differences in value by each approach.

Estimates show that easy accessibility and high land use reflect a greater increase in value using the income capitalisation approach (ICV) than the value calculated using the sales comparison approach (SCV). These factors are critical to bidders or potential buyers. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the ICV, which has the character of a bid price, is more susceptible to these factors than the SCV. All the samples in this study indicate that SCV is greater than ICV. In such cases, it was shown that in residential areas with excellent accessibility and land use, ICV is closer to SCV, and both values are likely to match. In other residential areas, the difference tends to be larger.

Miwa Ebisu, Chisato Asahi

Chapter 9. An Overview of Indicator-Based Approach of Flood Vulnerability Assessment

Abstract

Vulnerability is one of the main constructing factors in flood risk management. One of the most significant purposes of assessing the vulnerability to flood is to provide scientific basis for more effective policy making process. The impact level of flood is varied for each region, system, and community; therefore, the vulnerability is not identical between research objects. Although there have been a variety of approaches in assessing vulnerability, the indicator-based approach gives more precise vision of overall flood vulnerability rather than other approaches since it considers integrated data of physical, environmental, economic, and social dimensions for the building of logical images that illustrate the spatial distribution of vulnerability. The purpose of this chapter is to review the theoretical framework, common methods used, and analyze the drawbacks of indicator-based approach. A case example of flood vulnerability assessment in Hoa Vang district, Danang city in Vietnam is presented to clarify the steps taken and the results achieved when this approach is put into practice.

Thuy Linh Nguyen, Thi An Tran, Hoang Nam Nguyen

Chapter 10. A Study of Evacuation and Life Rebuilding After a Flood Disaster

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to survey measures against damage by Typhoon No. 19, which occurred in 2019, examine evacuation based on geospatial location information, and evaluate post-disaster life rebuilding. The results showed that evacuation was hindered by a lack of understanding of risk among residents and the distance to evacuation shelters, despite revision of the shelters on an amended disaster hazard map and discussion of evacuation procedures with the community in advance. Many households that were flooded above floor level had high costs for life reconstruction and required a long time for economic recovery.

Sotaro Tsuboi

Chapter 11. Consideration on the Subject and Criteria of the Minutes of the Environmental Assessment Deliberation Meeting by Exploratory Text Analysis

Abstract

What kind of “discussions” is held by administrative councils, and are these of good “quality?” The Environmental Assessment Council (EAC) was established as an affiliate of the chief in many local governments. In environmental assessments, for large-scale development projects, the business operator predicts and evaluates its impact on the environment and listens to the opinions of residents, the assessment council, and other constituents. This evaluation procedure is part of a system that ensures proper environmental consideration via a professional examination of the contents. Through several procedures, including interaction with various actors, appropriate environmental protection measures are incorporated into a business plan.

However, business assessment, which accounts for most of Japan’s environmental assessments, has been criticized as not functioning sufficiently for environmental decision-making and consensus building (Harashina 2004).

To grasp the discussions in the current EAC from multi-criteria by subject viewpoint, exploratory multivariate analysis of the linguistic data obtained from minutes of the meeting was conducted from various viewpoints. By doing so, the discussions and the structure of communication, which had not been clarified so far, were established, visualized, and displayed. Text analysis allowed for the discussions institutionalized in the policy process to be analyzed and presented a methodology to visualize the structure of multi-subject, multi-standard discussions.

Quantitative analysis of the structure of the method of discussion and communication in the council could contribute to constructing the method of evaluation and decision-making support that leads to consensus building. Furthermore, multiple criteria and multiple actors in evaluation and decision-making related to environmental problems should be considered. Moreover, if the aforementioned structure can be visualized and displayed, analysis of more minutes can be performed with less effort and time.

In this way, cluster analysis is not limited to traditional linguistic research; there are various perspectives on linguistic data obtained from the minutes, intending to grasp discussions at the current EAC from the perspective of multiple criteria by subject. Additionally, cluster analysis was also found to be effective for exploratory analysis. Therefore, a new analytical framework that contributes to the improvement of the system exploring the discussion and communication structure will likely be developed.

Takeshi Sugiyama, Chisato Asahi

Titel: Toward Sustainable Regions
herausgegeben von: Chisato Asahi
Noriko Horie
Verlag: Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-9956-67-8
Print ISBN: 978-981-9956-66-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5667-8