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The Ceremony of Certification of Plans for Special Zones for Structural Reform and Plans for Regional Revitalization Tuesday, July 19, 2005 JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attended the Presentation Ceremony of Certification of Plans for Special Zones for Structural Reform and Plans for Regional Revitalization, held at the Parliamentary Museum. This was the eighth and first presentation ceremony of certification of the plans, respectively. The system of Special Zones for Structural Reform allows exceptional measures for regulations in accordance with local characteristics, and aims to achieve regional vitalization by promoting structural reform in such areas as education, agriculture and social welfare. On this round, a decision was made to certify 61 plans for special zones. The plans for regional revitalization aim to vitalize the regional economies and promote the creation of employment in the region. A decision was made to certify 79 plans, which are drawn up based on the Regional Revitalization Law. Special zones approved on this occasion included the "Promotion of Acquisition of License for Trap Hunting of Boars" in Tottori Prefecture, which aims for the revitalization of the region through increasing the income from farming by reducing the damages to agricultural products caused by wild birds and animals. This will be achieved by strengthening the measures for the hunting of wild birds and animals through ensuring that a sufficient number of people are licensed to hunt whereby the acquisition of hunting license is permitted under the condition that the designated type of trap is used. An example of the plans for regional revitalization approved on this occasion is the "Plan to Promote the Ecomuseum in Katsuyama City-The Furusato Genki Museum," which aims to vitalize the regional industries, and promote tourism and exchanges. Prime Minister Koizumi delivered an address, in which he stated, "You all have utilized your knowledge and drew up various plans based on your deep understanding of the importance of special zones for structural reform and regional revitalization as well as the aim of the Koizumi Cabinet's policies: 'leave to the locality what they can do' and 'leave to the private sector what it can do.' The government intends to keep endeavoring to harness your ideas."