Subproject 1 – PhD 1

This project will explore the dynamics of rural-urban and central-local relations in Japan by fo-cusing on the Japanese central government’s policies and support schemes for urban-rural migra-tion and for rural revitalization, their conjunction, underlying ideas and objectives. The doctoral researcher will analyze local actors’ dependencies on resources from the center, and their agency in exercising greater independence. The researcher will compare similarities and differences across four municipalities in Kyūshū with regard to their appropriation of central government programs and attracting in-migrants. This includes a comparison of strategies used by municipalities and prefectures to showcase themselves to urbanites in order to convince them to relocate.