FACILITY-MANAGEMENT
The future of public facilities, on comparable information.
Usage, upkeep, reviewing what a facility is for, and public-private partnership: the questions a decision turns on.
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Optimal PPP/PFI Method Selection by Municipality Size — From Under 50,000 to Designated Cities
The optimal PPP/PFI method varies by municipality population, fiscal capacity, and organizational resources. This article presents a framework for realistic method selection across five population tiers — from municipalities under 50,000 to designated cities — analyzing success requirements and considerations for each stage.
PFI Act Amendment Trends — Key Points of the 2024 Revision and Impact on Municipalities
A comprehensive analysis of recent PFI Act amendments: the 2022 amendment (effective 2023) expanding eligible facilities to include sports and assembly venues, strengthening concession-designated manager system coordination, and the 2024 Action Plan revision with updated priority areas and upward-revised project targets.
PPP/PFI FAQ for Private Sector Operators — Entry, Procedures, and Risk Questions Answered
A systematic compilation of 30 practical questions for private sector operators considering entry into PPP/PFI projects. Covers sounding survey participation, proposal writing, risk allocation concepts, and local business entry barriers — with detailed answers to the 10 most critical questions.
Public Asset Management FAQ for Municipal Officials — 30 Essential Questions Answered
A systematic compilation of 30 practical questions that municipal facility management and planning staff frequently face — from comprehensive management plan formulation to PPP/PFI method selection and resident consensus building — with detailed answers to the 10 most critical questions.
PFI Act vs Park-PFI — Comparing Legal Basis, SPCs, and Project Terms【2026 Edition】
A thorough comparison of the PFI Act and Park-PFI, covering legal basis, SPC requirements, project terms, financing structures, and applicable scenarios. An intermediate-level guide for public facility management professionals.
Direct Operation vs. Private Outsourcing — A Comparison Framework [2026 Edition]
Deciding between direct municipal operation and private outsourcing requires evaluating multiple dimensions: cost, service quality, public interest obligations, and risk allocation. This article presents a structured four-axis comparison framework, applies it to common facility types, and introduces hybrid approaches — shifting the question from 'which is better?' to 'how should we decide?'
Financing Public Asset Revitalization — From Green Bonds to SIBs and Hometown Tax
Traditional municipal bonds alone cannot cover the renewal costs of aging public facilities. This guide covers the full spectrum of financing methods available for public asset utilization—green bonds, social impact bonds (SIBs), government crowdfunding (GCF), project finance, and public subsidies—with a framework for selecting the right approach by project phase and scale.
Operating Public Facilities Through Disability Welfare Reimbursements — The Stability of Statutory Revenue [2026 Edition]
By attracting disability welfare service providers to underutilized public facilities such as closed schools and former community centers, municipalities can secure a stable revenue base through statutory reimbursements. This article explains how the model works, its legal requirements, and the conditions for success.
Designated Manager System: 4 Structural Issues and the Park-PFI Alternative
Analysis of four structural problems in Japan's Designated Manager System (price wars, short cycles, low investment, nominal competition) and how Park-PFI offers an alternative for urban parks.
How to Think About 'What's Next' After the Comprehensive Management Plan [2026 Edition]
A practical guide for municipalities that have completed their Comprehensive Public Facility Management Plan and are now asking what to do next. Covers individual facility plans, market sounding, method selection, and the organizational challenges that most often block implementation.
Beyond PFS/SIB — Where Do Proven Programs Go Next?
Of Japan's 379 Pay for Success (PFS) projects, what happens after the outcome-linked 'proof of concept' phase ends? Analyzing domestic cases (Okayama, Toyota) and international examples (Peterborough, Aspire, HIV SIB), this article examines the transition from outcome-linked to fixed-fee commissioning, structural challenges, and the connection to EBPM.
Public Asset Activation in Shikoku — Potential and Challenges in a Blank Zone
The four Shikoku prefectures (Kagawa, Ehime, Tokushima, Kochi) represent a 'blank zone' where PPP/PFI, Park-PFI, and Small Concession adoption significantly lags the national average. This article analyzes the structural factors behind this gap and emerging signs of change including the Sanuki Manno Park sounding and the Ehime PPP/PFI Regional Platform.
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