129
One answer is multi-habitation, or, the use of more than one residence. Nowadays,
when mobility is much easier, a way of life wherein people live in a condominium
during the week when they go to work, and then spend their weekends in a detached
house in a provincial city, is a possibility. In the future, as autonomous cars become
a reality, even people living in Hakone or the foothills of Mt. Fuji may commute to
Tokyo. If they do not have to drive themselves, they can do work in the car, even if
the commute takes 1–2 h.
A place for work and a place to live in – how should they be designed?
The choice made by Minoru Yamamoto, COO of Aratana, Inc., which is based in
Miyazaki prefecture, is quite interesting. Aratana is an IT venture company that
specializes in e-commerce websites and marketing tailored to such websites.
Because of its line of business related to e-commerce, the company’s location in
Miyazaki prefecture has not posed any problems. Ninety percent of the company’s
clients are in Tokyo. Yamamoto himself is from Mie prefecture but he decided to
move to Miyazaki so that he can continue his favorite hobby of surfing. “One step
inside the office and it is the same business environment as Tokyo. One step outside
and Miyazaki is a wonderful place to live in,” says Yamamoto. He frequently enjoys
surfing on his days off.
Past work options were split between either going to industrial areas on the
Pacific Coast side of Japan, as symbolized by the employment en masse of middle
or high school graduates from the rural districts during Japan’s economic growth
years, or to stay in one’s local area and work in local industry. The first option meant
leaving a natural environment but the latter option meant that the kinds of employment to be found were limited. However, now it is possible to live in a provincial
city for the sake of one’s hobby and yet be employed in the same way as if one lived
in Tokyo, meaning one can enjoy the best of both.
As part of its management concept, Aratana has the ideal of employing one thousand people in Miyazaki and is actively promoting the employment of city-bred
college graduates in the regional cities as well as those returning to their hometowns
after having lived and worked in a big city.
6.5.4 Tokyo Work Styles and Countermeasures for Declining
Birthrates
Not only venture companies like Aratana, but a trend seems to be emerging for
major corporations to choose provincial cities too. In March 2016, YKK AP, manufacturer in nonferrous metals, transferred part of its headquarters to the city of
Kurobe in Toyama prefecture. The YKK Group has an R&D base in Kurobe and by
using natural resources like the wind, sun and underground water to the maximum,
the company is promoting the development of its Passive Town Kurobe Model, a
residential development which can keep electricity costs low. Known for its famous
Kurobe Dam, this area is rich in water resources and abundant nature, making it a
6.5 Diverse Options and Freedom of Participation
One answer is multi-habitation, or, the use of more than one residence. Nowadays,
when mobility is much easier, a way of life wherein people live in a condominium
during the week when they go to work, and then spend their weekends in a detached
house in a provincial city, is a possibility. In the future, as autonomous cars become
a reality, even people living in Hakone or the foothills of Mt. Fuji may commute to
Tokyo. If they do not have to drive themselves, they can do work in the car, even if
the commute takes 1–2 h.
A place for work and a place to live in – how should they be designed?
The choice made by Minoru Yamamoto, COO of Aratana, Inc., which is based in
Miyazaki prefecture, is quite interesting. Aratana is an IT venture company that
specializes in e-commerce websites and marketing tailored to such websites.
Because of its line of business related to e-commerce, the company’s location in
Miyazaki prefecture has not posed any problems. Ninety percent of the company’s
clients are in Tokyo. Yamamoto himself is from Mie prefecture but he decided to
move to Miyazaki so that he can continue his favorite hobby of surfing. “One step
inside the office and it is the same business environment as Tokyo. One step outside
and Miyazaki is a wonderful place to live in,” says Yamamoto. He frequently enjoys
surfing on his days off.
Past work options were split between either going to industrial areas on the
Pacific Coast side of Japan, as symbolized by the employment en masse of middle
or high school graduates from the rural districts during Japan’s economic growth
years, or to stay in one’s local area and work in local industry. The first option meant
leaving a natural environment but the latter option meant that the kinds of employment to be found were limited. However, now it is possible to live in a provincial
city for the sake of one’s hobby and yet be employed in the same way as if one lived
in Tokyo, meaning one can enjoy the best of both.
As part of its management concept, Aratana has the ideal of employing one thousand people in Miyazaki and is actively promoting the employment of city-bred
college graduates in the regional cities as well as those returning to their hometowns
after having lived and worked in a big city.
6.5.4 Tokyo Work Styles and Countermeasures for Declining
Birthrates
Not only venture companies like Aratana, but a trend seems to be emerging for
major corporations to choose provincial cities too. In March 2016, YKK AP, manufacturer in nonferrous metals, transferred part of its headquarters to the city of
Kurobe in Toyama prefecture. The YKK Group has an R&D base in Kurobe and by
using natural resources like the wind, sun and underground water to the maximum,
the company is promoting the development of its Passive Town Kurobe Model, a
residential development which can keep electricity costs low. Known for its famous
Kurobe Dam, this area is rich in water resources and abundant nature, making it a
6.5 Diverse Options and Freedom of Participation