Research Projects for FY2021

Research Group I “Contemporary Issues on Asia－Japan Economic Relations”
Research Group II “Growth Policies and Experiences among Asian Countries”
Research Group III “Urban Policies for Revitalization of Kitakyushu”
Consulting Division

Research Division

Contemporary Issues on Asia－Japan Economic Relations

This group focuses on Japan’s ties with Asia and policy issues accompanying changes in the economic environment such as globalization. While conducting academic research, this group cooperates with researchers at home and abroad to carry out policy research conducive to the common development of Asia.The main research topics of this group include: the international flow of people （immigration, international labor migration, tourism, etc.）, international trade and FDI between Asia and Japan, and their relations of interdependence.

Business Fields and Employment Creation of Foreign-born Entrepreneurs in Japan: Regional Differences and Influencing Factors
Research Summary: In recent years, with the decline of birth rate and the acceleration of population aging, Japan’s restrictions on foreigners’ employment and settlement have been greatly relaxed. Under such a background, while the number of foreigners working in Japanese enterprises has increased rapidly, the number of foreign-born entrepreneurs is also increasing. However, compared with some other developed countries, the number of influential immigrant enterprises and the scale of their employment are still very small. Considering the contribution of immigrant enterprises to the industrial development and the economic revitalization of backward areas in the United States and Canada, Japan should also promote foreigners’ entrepreneurship to make full use of their strong challenging spirit and rich network resources. Based on the statistical data and interviews, this study investigates the trend and current situation of business fields and employment scale of foreign entrepreneurs in Japan, and analyzes the regional differences among prefectures and influencing factors. In addition, according to these analysis results and comparison with foreign countries, we propose some measures to effectively promote foreigners’ entrepreneurship in Japan and Kyushu.
Staff: Erbiao Dai

Business Fields and Employment Creation of Foreign-born Entrepreneurs in Japan: Regional Differences and Influencing Factors

Research Summary:
In recent years, with the decline of birth rate and the acceleration of population aging, Japan’s restrictions on foreigners’ employment and settlement have been greatly relaxed. Under such a background, while the number of foreigners working in Japanese enterprises has increased rapidly, the number of foreign-born entrepreneurs is also increasing.
However, compared with some other developed countries, the number of influential immigrant enterprises and the scale of their employment are still very small. Considering the contribution of immigrant enterprises to the industrial development and the economic revitalization of backward areas in the United States and Canada, Japan should also promote foreigners’ entrepreneurship to make full use of their strong challenging spirit and rich network resources.
Based on the statistical data and interviews, this study investigates the trend and current situation of business fields and employment scale of foreign entrepreneurs in Japan, and analyzes the regional differences among prefectures and influencing factors. In addition, according to these analysis results and comparison with foreign countries, we propose some measures to effectively promote foreigners’ entrepreneurship in Japan and Kyushu.

Staff: Erbiao Dai

Understanding the Factors Associated with Lower Vaccination Take-up Rate: A Case Study of India
Research Summary: Immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives each year. Immunization is also considered to be the foundation of the primary health care system and an indisputable human right. However, despite tremendous progress in recent decades, about 20 million children still do not receive vaccines each year. Among all countries, India contributes to the largest pool of under-vaccinated children in the world. According to the most recent estimates, India has one of the lowest vaccination take-up rates globally and more than 300,000 children —aged 1–59 months— died from vaccine-preventable diseases in 2015, contributing to about one-third of total deaths globally. The primary objective of this project is to understand the factors associated with a lower vaccination take-up rate considering India as a case study.
Staff: Pramod Kumar Sur

Understanding the Factors Associated with Lower Vaccination Take-up Rate: A Case Study of India

Research Summary:
Immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives each year. Immunization is also considered to be the foundation of the primary health care system and an indisputable human right. However, despite tremendous progress in recent decades, about 20 million children still do not receive vaccines each year. Among all countries, India contributes to the largest pool of under-vaccinated children in the world. According to the most recent estimates, India has one of the lowest vaccination take-up rates globally and more than 300,000 children —aged 1–59 months— died from vaccine-preventable diseases in 2015, contributing to about one-third of total deaths globally. The primary objective of this project is to understand the factors associated with a lower vaccination take-up rate considering India as a case study.

Staff: Pramod Kumar Sur

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Growth Policies and Experiences among Asian Countries

This group studies what emerging Asian countries can learn from the economic development process and related policies of Japan, the first modern developed country in Asia, and put forward policy suggestions based on the research results.At the same time, this group studies what Japan can learn from the growth process and related policies of Asian countries with remarkable growth, and puts forward policy suggestions based on the research results.

A Study of the Startup Ecosystem in Taiwan and Japan
Research Summary: In recent years, “ecosystem” has been widely noticed as the foundation for promoting startups. In the startup ecosystem, new actors and methods have appeared, includes short and intensive startup-nurturing programs by accelerators and mentor networks, funding through angels and crowdfunding as well as venture capital (VC), promoting collaboration between startups and established large firms, stimulating entrepreneurship by university curriculums and pitch events, and so on. I have conducted research on the startup ecosystem in Taiwan last several years. On the basis of it, I would like to continue to develop my research on Taiwan, in addition, to turn my eyes to Japan. In Japan, “Beyond Limits. Unlock Our Potential: Strategies for creation of startup ecosystem to compete with the world top ecosystems” (Cabinet Office) has been promoted. Among various related actors, in recent years, accelerators have become the hub of startup ecosystem. So, I will focus on accelerators (and similar programs and organizations) of Taiwan and Japan for the time being as the main theme of my research.
Staff: Chikashi Kishimoto

A Study of the Startup Ecosystem in Taiwan and Japan

Research Summary:
In recent years, “ecosystem” has been widely noticed as the foundation for promoting startups.
In the startup ecosystem, new actors and methods have appeared, includes short and intensive startup-nurturing programs by accelerators and mentor networks, funding through angels and crowdfunding as well as venture capital (VC), promoting collaboration between startups and established large firms, stimulating entrepreneurship by university curriculums and pitch events, and so on.
I have conducted research on the startup ecosystem in Taiwan last several years. On the basis of it, I would like to continue to develop my research on Taiwan, in addition, to turn my eyes to Japan. In Japan, “Beyond Limits. Unlock Our Potential: Strategies for creation of startup ecosystem to compete with the world top ecosystems” (Cabinet Office) has been promoted. Among various related actors, in recent years, accelerators have become the hub of startup ecosystem. So, I will focus on accelerators (and similar programs and organizations) of Taiwan and Japan for the time being as the main theme of my research.

Staff: Chikashi Kishimoto

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Urban Policies for Revitalization of Kitakyushu

Focusing on the transportation infrastructure construction, environmental business and sustainable urban development that are conducive to the revitalization of Kitakyushu city, this group investigates the successful cases and relevant policies of urban and regional revitalization at home and abroad, and puts forward policy suggestions based on the research results.

再生エネルギー発電の増加に伴う送電線混雑の緩和策
Research Summary: 　日本の各電力会社は、その送電網を、発送電一貫体制のもとで各電力会社が設置した発電所で発電された電力を需要地に届けるために必要十分となるように設計、建設してきた。このため電力会社の管轄区域内で送電線に混雑が発生するということは、希であった。ところが現在では、既存の送電網が前提としてきた原発の多くが稼働停止しており、その一方で大量の再生エネルギーが供給されるようになった。このため既存の送電網に混雑が発生するようになった。これは再生エネルギー発電の発展を妨げている。例えば、ある地区に効率的な再生エネルギー発電事業者が参入しようとしても、すでにその地区に存在する非効率な火力発電所がフル稼働すると地区の送電線がフル利用される場合、参入が許可されない。その場合に、従来通り、既存の火力発電所に送電線の優先使用を認め続けるのか。それとも何らかのルールによって新規の再生エネルギー事業者に送電線の利用を認めるのかという問題が発生する。これに対する諸外国での解決策と日本での論議をサーベイした上で、日本にふさわしい対策を考察する。これは再生エネルギー発電を発展させようとしている北九州地区が将来直面しうる障碍の除去に役立つ。
Staff: Tatsuo Hatta

再生エネルギー発電の増加に伴う送電線混雑の緩和策

Research Summary:
　日本の各電力会社は、その送電網を、発送電一貫体制のもとで各電力会社が設置した発電所で発電された電力を需要地に届けるために必要十分となるように設計、建設してきた。このため電力会社の管轄区域内で送電線に混雑が発生するということは、希であった。

ところが現在では、既存の送電網が前提としてきた原発の多くが稼働停止しており、その一方で大量の再生エネルギーが供給されるようになった。このため既存の送電網に混雑が発生するようになった。これは再生エネルギー発電の発展を妨げている。例えば、ある地区に効率的な再生エネルギー発電事業者が参入しようとしても、すでにその地区に存在する非効率な火力発電所がフル稼働すると地区の送電線がフル利用される場合、参入が許可されない。その場合に、従来通り、既存の火力発電所に送電線の優先使用を認め続けるのか。それとも何らかのルールによって新規の再生エネルギー事業者に送電線の利用を認めるのかという問題が発生する。これに対する諸外国での解決策と日本での論議をサーベイした上で、日本にふさわしい対策を考察する。これは再生エネルギー発電を発展させようとしている北九州地区が将来直面しうる障碍の除去に役立つ。

Staff: Tatsuo Hatta

Changes and Future Potential of the Industrial Structure in Kitakyushu City
Research Summary: This study gives an overview of how the industrial structure has changed with the regional revitalization of Kitakyushu in mind. Then, we will look at what direction we are heading in the future. In this study, we mainly use the data of “Kenmin Keizai Keisan (Prefectural Accounts)” to analyze long-term trends. For the future, various prediction models are used. Through these, we will provide insights on regional economic policies.
Staff: Hiroshi Sakamoto

Changes and Future Potential of the Industrial Structure in Kitakyushu City

Research Summary:
This study gives an overview of how the industrial structure has changed with the regional revitalization of Kitakyushu in mind. Then, we will look at what direction we are heading in the future. In this study, we mainly use the data of “Kenmin Keizai Keisan (Prefectural Accounts)” to analyze long-term trends. For the future, various prediction models are used. Through these, we will provide insights on regional economic policies.

Staff: Hiroshi Sakamoto

A spatial study of air pollutants and green technologies in the Kyushu economy
Research Summary: Recently, many countries have become interested in using renewable energies to improve the quality of life, combat global warming and boost the economy. These objectives are aligned with the seventh and thirteenth SDGs. This study aims at exploring the evolution in the usage of environmentally-friendly energies and their relationship with well-being indicators of the population in Japan. To do so, we apply spatially explicit methods (e.g. ESDA) and data referred to energy technologies, air pollution and different economic indicators, at a regional and city level for Japan, including the Kyushu region. We attempt to provide specific policy suggestions at the regional level in line with the SDGs agenda.
Staff: Dominguez Alvaro

A spatial study of air pollutants and green technologies in the Kyushu economy

Research Summary:
Recently, many countries have become interested in using renewable energies to improve the quality of life, combat global warming and boost the economy. These objectives are aligned with the seventh and thirteenth SDGs. This study aims at exploring the evolution in the usage of environmentally-friendly energies and their relationship with well-being indicators of the population in Japan. To do so, we apply spatially explicit methods (e.g. ESDA) and data referred to energy technologies, air pollution and different economic indicators, at a regional and city level for Japan, including the Kyushu region. We attempt to provide specific policy suggestions at the regional level in line with the SDGs agenda.

Staff: Dominguez Alvaro

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Consulting Division

空港整備が地域経済に及ぼす効果に関する調査研究
Research Summary: 　令和2年3月26日に那覇空港の第2滑走路が供用開始され、令和7年3月31日には福岡空港の第2滑走路が供用開始となることが予定されている。また北九州空港においても、令和2年度から滑走路延長計画に関する国の調査が開始され、PI（パブリック・インボルブメント）や環境影響評価などが進められている。　本研究の主な内容は、このような空港滑走路の拡充および延長が地域経済に及ぼす影響を評価することである。特に、コロナ禍において航空旅客が減少するなか、航空貨物輸送は堅調に推移しており、滑走路の拡充が航空貨物に与える影響および製造業や流通業を中心とする空港後背圏の地域経済に与える影響を分析することは重要である。　本研究では、北九州空港を題材として、空港滑走路の拡充が地域経済に与える影響を分析する手法についての研究を行う。
Staff: Kazuki Tamura

空港整備が地域経済に及ぼす効果に関する調査研究

Research Summary:
　令和2年3月26日に那覇空港の第2滑走路が供用開始され、令和7年3月31日には福岡空港の第2滑走路が供用開始となることが予定されている。また北九州空港においても、令和2年度から滑走路延長計画に関する国の調査が開始され、PI（パブリック・インボルブメント）や環境影響評価などが進められている。
　本研究の主な内容は、このような空港滑走路の拡充および延長が地域経済に及ぼす影響を評価することである。特に、コロナ禍において航空旅客が減少するなか、航空貨物輸送は堅調に推移しており、滑走路の拡充が航空貨物に与える影響および製造業や流通業を中心とする空港後背圏の地域経済に与える影響を分析することは重要である。
　本研究では、北九州空港を題材として、空港滑走路の拡充が地域経済に与える影響を分析する手法についての研究を行う。

Staff: Kazuki Tamura

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