Japan's overall economic conditions are steadily improving, but the large gap between urban and rural areas is often cited as a serious problem. While business is brisk in Tokyo and other big cities, rural parts of Japan still lack the vigor.
Of the major areas outside of Tokyo, the Chubu region -- with Aichi Prefecture at its center -- has been widely known for its good performance. And when one turns to the Kyushu region, Oita Prefecture stands out for its brisk economic activity.
For example, the current industrial output in Kyushu as a whole is about 5 percent higher than the 2000 figure, but the output in Oita Prefecture is nearly 30 percent above the 2000 level. This is also reflected in the employment data. While the effective ratio of job offers to applicants in Kyushu stands at a dismal 0.71, the figure in Oita is much better at 0.96.