地方產業對於地區經濟發展有相當貢獻，惟日本的地方產業自1970年代以後呈現較明顯衰退現象。日本政府因而相繼立法，採取租稅減免 、優惠融資及提供補助款等獎勵措施，但依然不見好轉跡象。本文說明地方產業的重要性，與日本地方產業相關立法、措施，探討衰退原因及 日本地方產業發展成功的案例，以作為日本的參考及我國發展地方產業的借鏡。

Local industries make a significant contribution to regional economic development. However, local industries in Japan have been in clear decline since the 1970s. Though the Japanese government has responded by passing laws to provide tax incentives, preferential loans, financial assistance, and other such measures, there have not yet been any signs of improvement in the situation. This paper first discusses the important roles of local industries, and examines the laws and measures related to them in Japan. It then analyses an number of successful cases of such industries and examines the causes for the decline of this sector, with the aim of providing useful lessons for Taiwan's development of such industries.