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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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.
Public-Private Partnerships in the Kansai Region — Latest PPP/PFI Trends in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo
Comparative analysis of PPP/PFI cases across Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo. Covers GRAND GREEN OSAKA's Umekita Park (disaster prevention park district development), Kyoto's machiya regeneration and concessions, and Himeji City's Small Concession (Bokeitei) — revealing the distinctive characteristics of Kansai-style public-private partnerships.
PPP Contract Design After COVID — New Standards for Force Majeure and Demand Risk Clauses
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities in PPP/PFI contracts, with airport concession revenues dropping over 60% and 25 airport building companies falling into deficit. From the Cabinet Office's force majeure recognition to the 2021 triple guideline revision, the 2022 PFI Act amendment, and the 2025 Action Plan's 'phase-free' vision, this article maps the full landscape of post-COVID contract design.
Park-PFI vs. the Designated Manager System: Which Should You Choose? [2026 Edition]
A guide for municipalities and private businesses: a comparative analysis of Park-PFI and the designated manager system. Covers legal basis, project terms, risk allocation, revenue structures, recommendations by park type, and hybrid combinations. 2026 edition.
Comparing 7 PPP/PFI Methods: How to Choose Between Park-PFI, Small Concession, and Designated Management [2026 Edition]
A guide for municipal officials: comparing PFI Act Concession, BTO, BOT, RO, Park-PFI, Small Concession, and Designated Management across project scale, contract duration, risk allocation, and revenue structure. A facility-type recommendation matrix and selection flowchart help identify the right method for your municipality.
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