The 8th AJI Research Frontline Seminar was held on September 17, 2019, and Mr. Minoru Enari (Doctoral Student, Graduate School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University) gave a presentation titled “The Theoretical Basis and Reality of Regional Industrial Policy: A Case Study on The Textile Industry of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture”.

In many small cities in Japan local industries that are unable to compete with the global market have fallen into decline. This has resulted in loss of employment and the hollowing out of local communities. From a study of regional and national industrial policies in the postwar period, Minoru Enari explained the theoretical factors and changes in Japan’s industrial policy that have led to these market failures, and then described attempts by the Japanese government to support projects planned and implemented in local regions to revive their economic environment so far. His research was focused on the revival of the textile industry in Kurashiki City as a recent example. His research showed that compared with studies on national industrial policy, regional industrial policy is not well-theorized, and the conventional understanding that regional industrial policy is considered as a response to market failure is not sufficient. A lot of interesting issues came up during the question-and-answer session, and the audience showed a high level of interest not only in the case in Kurashiki City, but also the importance of addressing the issue of Japan’s rapidly greying local towns and cities.

Mr. Enari delivering his report