Nagoya City has launched a new initiative to work with young architects and students with the aim of revitalizing 'shuttered shopping streets' that are in decline. Participants in a course organized by the city will be dispatched to the shopping streets to renovate and plan events to attract customers, with the aim of revitalizing the area.

The city will provide a subsidy of JPY500,000 in addition to allowing program participants to choose the area in which they work. This is hoped to bring back former citizens who have left their home town, or people whose families have historical ties to an area.

In the past the city has provided subsidies for the renovation of shopping streets, but this has not led to an uptick in residence.

‍