Turning Around Japan's Declining Towns

Many Japanese cities are in decline, and people there are counting on the new prime minister to put a stop to it.

1 minute read

December 3, 2007, 7:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"A clearance sale has started in this city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido: The mayor's official car, a Toyota Crown, has just been auctioned online by his employees. They got about €5,000 ($7,421) for it, and a large, gleaming gemstone brought in €2500 euros ($3,711). Next, they want to sell off 130 bonsai."

"Mayor Hajime Fujikura receives visitors with a bow. Even as his city declines, he maintains his polite Japanese form. His office has grown lonelier. Since Fujikura was elected in April, 129 of 269 employees -- who failed to agree to 40 percent cuts in pay -- have left city hall."

"What's happening in Yubari is also happening in many other communities. With gross debt exceeding gross domestic product by 160 percent, Japan's government has a higher level of public debt than any other industrialized country. Hardly anyone in Japan can feel indifferent about Yubari's fate."

Friday, November 30, 2007 in Der Spiegel

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Close-up on e-scooters parked in painted designated parking area on city street.

E-Scooter Parking: A Guide

How smart planning — and ample designated parking — can end conflicts over shared scooters.

May 14 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Bozeman, Montana with mountains in background.

‘It’s Been 50 years’: Public Transit Law Passes in Montana

Legislation would fix transportation district issue, allow for greater reach on city bus routes.

May 14 - Daily Montanan

Illustration of nighttime city with white lines connecting nodes to illustrate technology and connectivity

Top 10 Tech-Ready Cities

An index ranks U.S. cities based on their preparedness for the ‘smart city future.’

May 14 - Smart Cities Dive