PEOPLE AND LIFE IN TOYAMA

People and Life in Toyama
Spacious Dwellings/Thrifty Householders/
Shortening Distance between Toyama and the Rest of Japan/
Toyama's Links with the World

Spacious Dwellings

Toyama has the highest rate of private home ownership in Japan: 80.4 per cent . In terms of space and overall residential standards, it is among the top-ranked prefectures in the country. This is probably a reflection of the great importance, some might say "obsession," that Toyama citizens attach to "home."

While Toyama has the third-highest ratio of individuals per household in Japan ,which is 3.33 , it also ranks number one in Japan in terms of amount of living space; measured in tatami mats, Toyama has an average of 12.95 mats per person , and average of 154.9 square meter total living area per residence.

Toyama,having the highest ratio of road repairs in the nation,is building its social capital and also with the low incidence of fires,eathquakes and crime,it is one of the safest places in Japan to live .


Thrifty Householders

The average of real monthly income is the fourth highest in the country. The prefecture has the third-highest ratio of households in which both husbands and wives work, and the income from. Thus, the typical Toyama family is relatively well off financially. However, while consumer spending in Toyama ranks tenth in Japan, (consumption expenditure to disposable income), the prefecture is almost at the bottom in the 45th place nationally. Conversely, Toyama has the 8th highest rate of savings in Japan. These figures are indicative of a frugal, savings-oriented population.

A major factor contributing to this situation is the hard-working women of Toyama. The ratio of working females in Toyama is 53.4 per cent, the fourth highest in the country, and the average length of continuous employment is the longest in Japan, at 10.3 years.


Shortening Distance between Toyama and the Rest of Japan

Toyama Prefecture is situated in the central part of Japan. The Toyama Airport is located just 8 km from the heart of the prefecture capital, Toyama City, and there are six flights a day to Tokyo, one a day to Sapporo and to Fukuoka, and two commuter flights a day to Nagoya. The opening of the Hokuriku Expressway has created a direct highway link between Toyama and the major cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya .

With the planned inauguration of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) and further upgrading of highway and air links, the number of locations in Japan within a day trip distance from Toyama will increase even further.

Toyama Prefecture has a compact land area covering a radius of roughly 50 km from the center at Toyama City so that an hour drive from the city would take one to almost all towns and villages in the prefecture.


Toyama's Links with the World

Toyama Prefecture has established friendly ties with a number of overseas regions, such as Liaoning Province in China and Sao Pauro State in Brazil, Oregon State in the USA and Soviet Union's Pacific Coast region.

In 1984, a quasi-public organization, the Toyama International Center, was established by the prefecture government as base for international exchanges, and has been promoting some at the grass-roots level.

As it is located in the middle of the Japan Sea coastal area, Toyama has along history of trading with points along the east Asian coast. Building on its track record in trade with the Soviet Union and links with China, the prefecture envisions to be a major base for international exchange around the entire Japan Sea rim.




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