Regional Revitalization of Sakaiminato-Shi in Japan: The Necessity of Sustainable Local Culture Development Policy

In Japan, Sakaiminato-shi, a city in Tottori Prefecture, is a notable example of revitalization using manga content. The city revitalized its stagnant commercial street by using content created by Japanese manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. Today, Sakaiminato-shi is one of the most renowned tourist attractions in Tottori Prefecture. During an early phase of revitalization, a project focusing on the livelihoods of residents was implemented to boost and develop the local economy. Currently, a full-fledged renewal project is under way to address the problem of a decreasing number of tourists and sustain the prosperity of Sakaiminato-shi. This research analyzes the successful case and success factors of strategies to revitalize the Sakaiminato-shi and examines an ongoing renewal project. The case study on the regional revitalization of Sakaiminato-shi highlights implications for future regional revitalization strategies. It also aims to emphasize the necessity of a sustainable regional development policy.