A study of Regional Image Formation in Japan through Public Promotion Media: Water Towns as a Case Study

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20757
• Project/Area Number (Other): 17H06676 (2017-2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2017-2018)
• Research Field: Town planning/Architectural planning
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Katsuki Ayumi 東京工業大学, 環境・社会理工学院, 助教 (50805124)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-08-25 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 水郷 / 水空間 / 観光地域のイメージ / 都市のイメージ / 広報メディア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study defined a water town as a region that utilizes water spaces such as rivers, waterways, and lakes as the core element of its image. Thorough an analysis of text expressions in their public promotion media, we found distinct features and values associated with water resources in each region: 1. Areas on the Sea of Japan side: activities related to agricultural production utilizing spring water originating from volcanoes, as well as production and observation of coastal water areas and the biological organisms living there. 2. Areas around the Seto Inland Sea: activities to explore the natural landscape in the valley areas upstream of rivers. 3. Areas on the Pacific side: presenting diverse activities in waterside areas due to their proximity to metropolitan areas, as well as the history of towns that originated from famous large rivers.
Overall, this study sheds light on the distinct values associated with water resources, contributing to our understanding of the place images.

Free Research Field

建築意匠、都市イメージ

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

わが国の様々な地域では、地域の歴史性、空間、産業といった、様々な地域固有の資源を基軸としたイメージの形成が模索されている。広報メディアからはこうした地域が主体的に提示しようとするイメージを読み取ることが可能である。本研究で得られた成果は、わが国における観光振興の動向を示すだけでなく、現代社会において複雑化・多様化する人々の地域に対する価値観を映し出すものでもあり、社会における地域のあり方を記号学的に考察する上で有用と考えられる。