Suburban/Hinterland Aging in Japan and Types of Policy/Civic Reactions : Market-Oriented Relocation, Policy-Led Relocation, or Machizukuri?

Japan faces unprecedented challenge of aging and the trend is faster in hinterland and suburban areas. This paper focuses on three typical areas in Japan - (1) Tama Newtown, facing the suburban depopulation and market driven concentration to city core (Market-led relocation) can be observed, (2) Yubari, which the city hall takes residents relocation policy to central area, after coalmines closures 1980s and bunkruptcy in 2000s, and (3) Shimane, most mountainous and disadvantaged hinterland but new machizukuri movements emerge. The difference of these three strategies shall be illustrated using microdata. Considering the fact that East Asian cities soon trace the same aging route, I hope this paper somehow helps to forge any creative discussion to widen new frontier for promoting alternative development, and the retreat battle of former industrial city and suburbs give lessons for latecomers to prepare for their future.