Region and Design: Masashi Sogabe (architect)

A region is the crucible that cultivates life, all the more reason why it should be a happy place to be. Local governments throughout Japan are beginning to put a positive spin on such negative factors as demographic aging and sagging local economies, and have begun introducing initiatives aimed at revitalizing the local community. There are many, many unconventional governors and mayors taking the measure of ideas that are not bound by custom or commonsense, leaders doing everything in their power to turn these ideas into reality. We traveled from Hokkaido to Kyushu, visiting four leaders en route. Here, we consider the future of regional development through the lens of our dialogue with these four leaders.