departmental bulletin paper

Departmental Bulletin Paper

Text

Osaka Human Sciences. 2018, 4, p. 61-83

Forces in the development of remote islands in Japan : A case study of local energy enterprises in Tsushima Island

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

Text

2018-03

Japan, one of the most famous islander nations in the world, has promoted the development of its remote islands for over 60 years after the Second World War. The target islands and projects for fostering development have been steadily expanded. However, the country is facing serious socio-economic challenges such as aging and recession, resulting in less available funding for preferential treatment to remote islands. Thus, the framework for boosting island development should be reconsidered, and this paper argues that changing the systems of energy supply is a key step in this direction. First, the history and the main characteristics of the development initiatives on remote islands in Japan are analyzed. The first project to support remote island development was to improve transportation and port and airport facilities, and to supplement the gap in fossil fuel prices between remote islands and the mainland through public funds. The living environments on the remote island regions were gradually and continuously improved with lifelines such as sanitary water systems and electricity networks. These support structure resulted in a huge amount of subsidies being invested in building and maintaining ports and airports, and in fuel cost assistance, which enabled easy access to the mainland but also prolonged the dependence on the mainland. In addition, the research focuses on subsidy projects to support high fuel costs and energy development in remote islands. After 63 years of the launching of the law for development promotion of the remote islands, the gap in fossil fuel prices has not been reduced. Based on the research results of local energy enterprises on Tsushima Island, initiatives for locally produced energy are superior to the old energy system that consumes imported fuels. The new energy system that provides local energy suppliers is: 1) more economically manageable, 2) easier to coordinate with municipal strategies, 3) and faster for responding to emergencies such as an unpredicted breakdown or natural disaster.Finally, remote islands have established urban infrastructure such as well paved roads and advanced internet network services. Despite the vast investment, fuel cost is still a severe issue for communities on remote islands. According to the result of the examination of field research on Tsushima Island, the need for locally produced energy has firmly risen in order to build an independent energy system and social structure. As possible solutions, several new energy technologies are going to be introduced on several islands in other countries, in the form of offshore wind turbines, tidal power generation, hybrid ships and electric boats. These technologies enhance the harnessing of the local oceanity, that is, the remote islands’ marine environment and access to natural resources. This approach should help lessen island dependence on the mainland as well as local mimicry of nationally endorsed technologies and social policies.

10.18910/68280

68280

Forces in the development of remote islands in Japan : A case study of local energy enterprises in Tsushima Island

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

English

2018-03

Osaka Human Sciences

4

61

83

https://hdl.handle.net/11094/68280

10.18910/68280

https://doi.org/10.18910/68280