To diminish regional gap by developing local potentiality: Japan's First Strategy for Economic Development, Kogyo Iken

During around 25 years from 1905 to 1930, although Japan showed rapid economic growth, regional economic gap in Japan was diminished rather than widen. During this period, first economic development strategy titled Kogyo Iken was adopted in the latter half of the promotion of industry strategy. Kogyo Iken was leaded by Masana Maeda. Since Kogyo Iken was wrote around 130 years ago, it cannot be applied directly in the developing countries at present. However, there are several ways of thinking that include the essence of balanced development. Maeda emphasized on the following points. 1. To emphasize in field visits in order to grasp objective facts 2. To formulate farmers' organizations and network among organizations 3. To build institutions including rules for agricultural production and distribution 4. To improve technologies that fit with local farming conditions 5. To develop agricultural human resources 6. To maintain and improve infrastructure for distribution and exports of products 7. To identify local products and industries which have enough local potentiality and comparative advantages.