Japan's Regions Lead New Strategies for Demographic Renewal

As Japan confronts historic population decline, regional leaders and financial institutions are pioneering innovative strategies to drive economic renewal. strengthen communities, and build a more resilient national future.

- - Bernard Thompson

Japan's demographic shift is prompting a new wave of opportunity: the population declined by 910,000 in 2024 and is expected to dip below 120 million in 2025, while the workingage share stands at 59.6 percent. Rather than slowing progress, these changes are accelerating innovation, with policymakers and financial institutions pioneering regional strategies that strengthen communities and support longterm economic and social renewal.

The Ōita Model of Structural Renewal

Consider Öita in northeast Kyushu, long known for its onsen culture and manufacturing base. One of forty prefectures suffering from population decline, it has turned demographic pressure into a catalyst for structural renewal, positioning itself as a national model by uniting cultural strength, industrial competitiveness and major infrastructure investment. Governor Kiichiro Satō captures the priority: "The solution is not to stop the capital from developing, but to ensure the regions receive the same bold and strategic investments."

Yamanashi's Integrated Human Capital Strategy

Further inland at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture is reshaping regional revitalization through a strategy centered on human capital, green innovation and sustainable mobility. Governor Kotaro Nagasaki stresses that rebuilding confidence is essential to reversing demographic decline: "Without a strong belief in stable future income and standard of living, young people are understandably hesitant to start families." His administration centers wage growth, skills development and technology to drive renewal.