A Role for Fujitsu in Local Revitalization
April 07 (Friday) 2006
Boasting a staff of over 150,970 employees (the total number as of March 31, 2005) and numerous offices throughout Japan, Fujitsu is a massive ICT company that is expanding the possibilities of service networking. In its various local offices throughout the country, Fujitsu has the privilege of providing services not only to private firms but also to local governments and other public institutions.
As an ICT service company, Fujitsu receives many requests from its clients throughout the country for proposals and services aimed at solving local problems. Fujitsu also provides ICT consulting services for solving local problems, and expectations for these services are numerous. In today's post I wish to explore the possibilities of how Fujitsu can respond to these expectations.
Underneath the issues confronting businesses, local governments and public institutions all over the country lies one major undercurrent: the impact of Japan's long-term population decline. Last year Japan's population peaked and tipped into decline, with statistics from research institutes studying the problem predicting the 2050 population level ranging from a moderate estimate of 100 million to a low-end estimate of 92 million. Furthermore, while Tokyo and other prefectures including Kanagawa, Shiga, and Okinawa are predicted to see slight increases between 2000 and 2050, the majority of Japan's regional areas are facing depopulation on a massive scale. This trend is particularly striking in rural areas. It is feared that this trend will lead to the stagnation or decline of economic activity and the dysfunction of a host of social systems that are built on wages.
There are various mechanisms in each region that can conceivably respond to the many problems unleashed by this kind of mega-trend, but viewing the issue from a broad perspective reveals one major possibility. This is the diffusion of the aging population concentrated in Tokyo and other major metropolitan areas into regional areas throughout the country. This would not only shrink the disparity in economic activities between regions, but it would also release many people from the pollution, clamor, and stress of the cities. Such relocation has many merits, including “improving the quality of life” of those moving to a countryside that is blessed with clean air and water, fresh foods, and a slow and relaxed lifestyle.
Until now however, despite being aware of such potential, it has not been easy for people to move to the countryside because of a lack of job opportunities. However, Japan's aging society means that retired workers are appearing in large numbers, particularly in major metropolitan areas. These are people whose economic circumstances would allow them to migrate to the countryside even without the presence of job opportunities. In this way, having a rapidly increasing population of retirees as the country enters the 21st Century coincides perfectly with the timing for establishing a new foundation for Japan, one that will reflect the great transformation occurring in Japan's socioeconomic structure.
Herein lies the problem: How to make this demographic shift/population redistribution a reality? Forced migration is of course out of the question, and so it must be left up to the personal, rational decisions of each individual. Thus, in order to make this possibility come true, it is vital that the general public be presented with ample and detailed information regarding just how healthy and economical the living conditions are in the countryside. Additionally, the infrastructure and services for life in the countryside must be enhanced in alignment with local circumstances.
Through its information and consulting capabilities, Fujitsu has tremendous potential to contribute to this project by presenting the public with information and building the necessary infrastructure to make these goals realized.
There are many uncertainties and needs facing regions all over Japan as a result of the country's aging, maturing, and declining population. Based on a broad perspective of these issues, I believe that Fujitsu can provide fundamental answers to these problems by offering its wisdom, intelligence, and meticulous service, and by building the infrastructure and offering the information necessary to support a nation built around a new way of life.