We have studied generation, distribution and use of information in the digital age through some case studies in Japan. First, we have analyzed development process of communication infrastructure with focus on administrative restructuring and digital divide. Second, we have analyzed medical care, childcare and human resource development using ICT with focus on social network of stakeholders and relationship between cyberspace and real space. Third, we have pointed out the problems on the content industry and regional revitalization using contents in local areas of Japan in the digital age

This research aims at analyzing the present condition of big stores closing in the local cities in Japan, and examines the agendas on using of the closing, and the effective correspondence by local governments. In this research, the questionnaire was performed in 849 cities, towns and villages all over the country, and the hearing was performed in six local governments which succeeded in using of the closing. As a result, the following four points became clear. 1) 50.4% of the local governments which had a large store in the central city area have experienced the closing of a big store. 2) It is very difficult to introduce commercial establishment with an ability to pull in more customers after the closing. 3) The compound development which unified downsized type redevelopment is effective. 4) It is important to adjust the right by a governmental agency at an early stage

An important geographical change that has produced sophisticated information networks within wholesalers is the spatial separation of transaction locations and logistics depots. The need for face to face contact means that transactions will be directed to big cities that are convenient for representatives from manufacturing companies or chain stores. Meanwhile, logistics depots, which have become automated and integrated into a smaller number of large depots with the expansion of delivery areas, will be directed to suburbs with good traffic conditions (locations with proximity to a by-pass or interchange).Such trends will bring about three changes in Japan's regional economy. The first is the widening of the gap between cities due to the concentration of transaction functions in large cities. Concentration of wholesalers in regional-capitals like Sendai will continue and the gap in wholesale sales among regions will increase. The second is the drastic relocation of logistics depots. A typical example is the concept of supply chain management in which multiple manufacturers share one logistics depot in order to increase the delivery efficiency for each delivery area. The third is the collapse of the procurement function of small-scale retailers in line with the rapid decline of small and medium wholesalers. Wholesalers that are not good at responding to informatization will be alienated from transactions and many will be forced out of business or to reduce their function to vendors

This study aims to carry out an empirical analysis on the provision of local information using Internet and mobile phone.The results of the study are summarized as below.1) The percentage of local information websites is higher for PC Internet than for mobile phone. This fact suggests the difference of the diffusion stage between the means of local information provision.2) The geographical distribution of local information websites of mobile phone corresponds to the hierarchy of general urban system of Japan.3) Geographical positioning techniques of mobile phone are applied to the local information provision through the i-Area services by NTT-docomo and GPS based search service by KDDI.4) Shopping streets in various regions run a number of websites. Almost all websites contain the outline of the shopping street, links to individual shops, event information. The portion of shopping streets running their own websites is larger in the larger cities.5) The opening period of official website by local government has no clear correlation to the size of municipalities.6) Small local governments tend to emphasize the information provision to the outside of the region. The size of local municipality is also affect to dealing with natural disasters using the website and the information services for foreign residents.7) In spite of the Japanese Government's policy to promote e-local government, online public services have not yet diffused into small and medium-sized municipalities.8) E-commerce of various local products in small peripheral areas has some potentialities to invigorate the local economy

Analysis in Chapter. 1 and 2 are based on the POS (point-of-sales) data supplied by 5 large convenience store chains. The data from 287 stores around the Tokyo metropolitan area are available for this study, while the chain operates several hundred stores in the same area. Classification of store types is proposed through the analysis of diversity in the pattern of sales by commodity groups. Along the line of the proposed store types, systematic interpretation is given for the correlation between diversity in the pattern of sales and that in the store locations.The result of factor analysis by the commodity groups suggests five factors to explain the sales patterns of convenience stores, and according to the result of cluster analysis on each factor loading, stores are classified into the seven types.Convenience stores, with its advantage in one-stop shopping, are said to acquire a part of potential sales of supermarkets and other competitors. This assertion has been proved through the analysis of POS data. Such aspect in the functions of convenience stores basically reflects the retailers' competition in the local market. It is noteworthy, however, the younger customers show different pattern of store choice behavior from older ones. It is also notable that some convenience stores show a clear-cut change in sales patterns by day and night, with office workers' or college students' needs in the daytime and local residents' 'replacement' needs at night.With Chapter 3, I examined a business condition characteristic, a location strategy, and growth possibility about "shop99". As a result, In Tokyo metropolitan area, the place where "SHOP99" could open a store was still had a lot, and potential number 850 rose near. However, population density is low in the local city zone, and there are few small households which SHOP99 assumes a target. On this account there is remarkably little room where SHOP99 can open a store

This study focuses local government broadband policies for broadband deployments and regional promotion using broadband networks in less-favored areas. The results are following. 1) Although broadband deployments have progressed even in less-favored areas of Japan, not a few areas with no-broadband access remain. 2) Digital cable TV networks, which were constructed in order to deal with digitizing terrestrial television broadcasting, can be used effectively for broadband deployments in mountainous regions. 3) Utilizing of the existing facilities and usable software are key factors in regional promotion using information systems