xxxi
Various Options
Companies moving their headquarters or select business functions from the city to
regional areas have appeared. Komatsu Ltd. and YKK Corporation have transferred
a part of their headquarters’ functions to Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and
Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, respectively. They have reported that there has
been no inconvenience at all since there is ready access to the Internet and the
Shinkansen bullet train and airplanes are viable means of transportation. On the
contrary, while the number of children of married women who work at Komatsu’s
headquarters in Tokyo is 0.9 on average, the figure is 1.9 in the Komatsu district. In
other words, moving a company’s business functions away from urban city centers
can help serve as a countermeasure against a declining birthrate (Fig. 23).
Furthermore, Aratana is a venture company in Miyazaki City with 120 employees. The following comment by the company’s young president is impressive:
“Once you step inside the office, you will find a business environment that is no
different from that in Tokyo (Fig. 24). Once you step out, you will find the enriching
and beautiful living environment of Miyazaki.” Through progress in information
technology and means of transportation, local regions are no longer just the
countryside. We have diverse options throughout the stages of our lives on where we
want to work or live. In the future, there will be more options, and we will have
greater freedoms. The problems of overcrowding in the cities and underpopulation
in rural areas can be resolved simultaneously.
Fig. 22 Robot classroom taught by people who have experience working on control systems.
(Courtesy: Next-Ph Robot Club)
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”
Various Options
Companies moving their headquarters or select business functions from the city to
regional areas have appeared. Komatsu Ltd. and YKK Corporation have transferred
a part of their headquarters’ functions to Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and
Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, respectively. They have reported that there has
been no inconvenience at all since there is ready access to the Internet and the
Shinkansen bullet train and airplanes are viable means of transportation. On the
contrary, while the number of children of married women who work at Komatsu’s
headquarters in Tokyo is 0.9 on average, the figure is 1.9 in the Komatsu district. In
other words, moving a company’s business functions away from urban city centers
can help serve as a countermeasure against a declining birthrate (Fig. 23).
Furthermore, Aratana is a venture company in Miyazaki City with 120 employees. The following comment by the company’s young president is impressive:
“Once you step inside the office, you will find a business environment that is no
different from that in Tokyo (Fig. 24). Once you step out, you will find the enriching
and beautiful living environment of Miyazaki.” Through progress in information
technology and means of transportation, local regions are no longer just the
countryside. We have diverse options throughout the stages of our lives on where we
want to work or live. In the future, there will be more options, and we will have
greater freedoms. The problems of overcrowding in the cities and underpopulation
in rural areas can be resolved simultaneously.
Fig. 22 Robot classroom taught by people who have experience working on control systems.
(Courtesy: Next-Ph Robot Club)
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”