POSITIVE AND THEORETICAL STUDY ON FORMATION AND CHANGE OF REGIONAL SPACE

本研究旨在通过实证区域研究和对空间理论的理论考察，重新思考人口减少区域是“边缘区域”，并提取此类区域的基本特征。在大多数周边地区，人口减少的趋势有所减弱，但问题正在变得更大、更严重。在这种情况下，首席调查员研究了大约十个或更多的案例(山村、以前的采煤区和岛屿)，这些案例可以看到人口急剧减少和区域衰退。尤其是在日本经济不景气的今天，各地区切断对他们的补贴是一个严重的问题。在不久的将来，区域发展需要一些新的前景。

This research aims to rethink of depopulated regions as "peripheral regions" and to extract fundamental characteristics of such regions through both positive regional research and theoretical examination towards spatial theories. At most peripheral regions, trends of depopulation were weakened but problems there were going bigger and more serious. On such situation the head investigator has researched some ten or more cases (mountain villages, former coal mining regions and islands) where drastic depopulation and regional decay can be seen. Especially at these days of economic depression in Japan it is severe problem for the regions to cut off subsidies for them. In the near future, for regional development, some new prospects will be needed.