Local Governments and Public Administration

Abstract

Abstract A quarter of a century after decentralization reforms began, local governments in Japan find themselves standing at a crossroads. The role of local autonomous bodies in the government sector is exceedingly huge. On the other hand, significant financial disparities continue to exist among local governments. The level of administrative services has been left to the discretion of the regions due to decentralization reforms. When we consider the full-scale arrival of a society marked by a declining birthrate, aging population, and depopulation, it is uncertain as to whether the current system is sustainable. In this chapter, the author will focus on the organizational structure and operations of local governments and go over their basic structure and operational reality. It can be said that the ability of local governments to proactively and flexibly deal with the various challenges faced by Japan rests on this point. Going forward, local governments are expected to be the driving force behind open innovation at the will of the local community as they aim to cultivate a society rich in diversity in accordance with actual local conditions while coordinating with various actors.