A Study on the Recycling of the Closed Schools in Japan

일본의 다양한 폐교 재활용에 관한 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a fundamental data and establish policies for the utilization of closed schools in Korea. The closed schools have been increased in Korea because not only the birth rate, and the number of students have been decreased, but also a greate number of people have moved to big cities or the elderly population is increasing. In this context, this research explores the current circumstance of Japan where experienced the similar phenomenon before Korea had. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The reason for the closed schools in Japan is a decrease in population due to the urbanization and reducing students themselves by aging. The recycling proportion of the closed schools is only approximately 62% in Japan. It means that fewer facilities have been recycled due to the transfer of the managemental departments and the lack of budgets for purchasing the closed schools. As the number of children decreases, but elderly people increases as the same time, it is necessary to positively examine the transition of the closed schools to new facilities for the elderly people. Even though the number of children had been declined, and it is recently turning back to an increasing of the residential children in 23 districts of Tokyo, there are still existing many closed schools. This phenomenon is caused by the decrease of the children and residential areas due to the aging and urbanization. For these reasons, there are many diverse demands for the practical and valuable recycling of the closed schools. However, it seems that there are few cases of successful disposal or transfer of management to other suitable ministry. Therefore, it is necessary for the closed schools to be remodeled the facilities required by current residents.

Figure 1. The number of births and population in Japan(2004-2017)

Figure 2.The number of closed schools in Japan(2002-2015)

Figure 3. The number of closed schools and population in Japan (2002-2015)

Figure 4. The cause of closed schools(2002-2015)

Figure 5 The types of closed schools in Japan

Figure 6. Availability of the closed schools in Japan

Figure 7. Utilization of the closed schools in Japan

Figure 8. The number of students in 23 districts of Tokyo

Figure 9. The number of closed schools in 23 districts of Tokyo

Figure 10. The number of closed schools by location in 23 districts of Tokyo

Figure 11. The number of closed schools by zone in 23 districts of Tokyo

Figure 12. Art Chiyoda 333

Figure 14. Art Chiyoda 333

Figure 16. Utilization of the closed schools

Figure 17. Utilization period of the closed schools

Figure 18. Utilization period of the closed schools by zone

Figure 19 The types of temporary use for a short-term period

Figure 20. The types of temporary use for a short-term period

Figure 13. Art Chiyoda 333

Figure 15. Art Chiyoda 333