This book aims to address the dynamism of concepts of wide area public service in Japan. It advocates the use of flexible strategies to ensure service standards are best suited to each regional demand. This concept can be called "departure from uniformity". This book also examines the advantages and disadvantages of these shifts for the future of Japanese public policy, and suggests various strategies to prevent further complications; e.g. autonomous settlement zone.

Shunsuke Kimura is Professor at the Graduate School of Law in Hitotsubashi University, Japan.

1. Introduction

2. The basic structure of Japan's local government

3. The basic structure of Japan's wide-area (regional) governance

4. Change of the Structure

5. Conclusion

6. References