Fukui Prefecture in the Hokurikudo of the Goki-Shichido and Regional Variations: Echizen vs. Wakasa Provinces

Abstract

Of all the 47 prefectures, the projected population increase rate of Fukui Prefecture in 2045 ranks 23rd (−21.9%), about the middle from the top of all the 47 prefectures, as opposed to the national average (−16.3). However, when we look at its regional variations among 17 municipalities within Fukui Prefecture, we realize that there are a wide range of variations within Fukui Prefecture itself. Furthermore, it is amazing to notice that municipalities of two extremes—the highest, Sabae-shi (−6.4%), and the lowest, Ikeda-cho (−56.9%)—are located adjacent to each other in the same Tannan area of the Reihoku district of ancient Echizen Province. Regional variations in the sustainable population in Fukui Prefecture seem not so much affected by the provincial difference along the Hokurikudo of the Goki-Shichido. This is, perhaps, due to the fact that no influential clan family or domain existed to control either Echizen and/or Wakasa provinces, among the 11 domains in these two provinces. Thus, when the Abolition of the Feudal Clan was enforced in 1874, these 11 domains were merged and dissolved several times to finally form the present-day Fukui Prefecture in 1884. The annual population increase study of 2020 reports that, of the total 17 municipalities in Fukui Prefecture, Sabae-shi had the greatest total population increase (−0.11%). However, it is interesting to note that Ikeda-cho has the highest annual child population increase (0.00%) in Fukui Prefecture. In analyzing measures that Ikeda-cho has taken recently, we recognize that the negative municipal power of the abandoned forest in the town has been used to create the Kibo no Machi Project, changing the once-abandoned mountains into an adventure forest. The impact of the successful project has increased both the exchange and related populations, and hopefully the resident population in the near future.