Presented at: GSEF2016 Montreal

Organisation: Okitama Self-sufficiency Promotion Organization / Association of Seoul Declaration Japan (ASD, Citizen initiatives)

Date: September 8, 2016

Presenter: Mr. Tsutomu Watanabe (Representative)

Contacts: shigemi.watanabe@s-club.coop

Summary: 

Several local governments, including three cities and five towns, as well as the individuals and their groups of the Okitama region of Yamagata Prefecture in northern Japan, formed a structure of self-sustenance blocs in order to counteract the negative effects of globalization. Faced with a decreasing population and declining agriculture and forest industries, they aim to foster a virtuous economic cycle by increasing local purchasing of necessities in the region and by decreasing the dependency on the external economy. Such movement leads to strengthened local industries and increases job creation.