Improving Quality of Life

In April 2002, Shizuoka kicked off its “2010 Strategic Plan” with a view to making the prefecture an even better place to live. Shizuoka's goal of achieving prosperity and a high standard of living for all is being steadily achieved. The strategic plan tackles issues in seven categories: The Environment, Safety, Security, Industry, Exchange, Human Resource Development, Culture and Sport. It includes 158 well-defined goals. In working to realize them, Shizuoka has become an early adopter in Japan of the New Public Management (NPM) approach to public sector administration.

Key Focus Areas

The Environment

Goals include reducing emissions and energy consumption as well as developing new types of energy and protecting Shizuoka's rich natural environment.

1. - Reduce CO2 emissions by 12%
2. - Over 1,400 businesses to receive ISO 14001 “environmental management” certification
3. - Achieve 100% of the indices for protecting the environment of Mt. Fuji

Safety

Goals include health issues as well as respecting the rights of all citizens and allowing them to live their lives to the fullest in a healthy and comfortable environment.

1. - Over 70% of physically challenged people should feel involved in society
2. - Over 80% of residents should consider the prefecture a good place to raise children
3. - Daycare centers should be available to all those who need them

Security

Goals include reducing the impact of major natural disasters, and cutting traffic accidents.

1. - Reduce the number of annual traffic accident deaths to under 200
2. - Halve the number of potential deaths from a major earthquake
3. - Reduce potential deaths from natural disasters such as floods and storms to zero

Industry

Shizuoka will create an environment in which productivity and creativity can thrive and people’s potential can best be fulfilled amid low unemployment and high pay levels.

1. - Achieve a gross prefectural product of between 15.36-16.75 trillion yen
2. - Grow the service sector to an annual value of 3.12-3.54 trillion yen
3. - Elevate average income so Shizuoka ranks among the nation’s top 3 prefectures

Exchange

Goals include having a solid traffic, urban, and residential infrastructure, enabling people to travel easily and freely, and making Shizuoka easily accessible to all visitors.

1. - Increase the number of Shizuoka residents going abroad to 500,000 and the number of overseas visitors to Shizuoka to 500,000 annually
2. - Make urban areas accessible within 30 minutes to 92.5% of the population
3. - Over 60% of the population should consider their urban environment enriching

Human Resource Development

Goals include making available the resources to enable people to grow and develop their skills so that they can lead meaningful lives.

1. - 100% of children should eat breakfast
2. - Education levels should be above the national average in all subjects, both in grades and physical ability
3. - Achieve a 100% employment rate for those who received vocational training in Shizuoka

Culture and Sports

Goals include exposing residents to top-quality culture and sports through events and exhibitions, giving them opportunities to participate, and to nurture people who can create and develop high-quality cultural assets.

1. - Over 90% of residents should enjoy cultural or sports activities
2. - Over 50% of adults should play sports at least once a week
3. - Elevate Shizuoka to within the top 8 in the National Athletic Meets for overall performance