Community Investments Creating Environmental and Social Business: The Possibility of Establishing Social Financial System in Saitama

In 2005 Tokyo municipal agency and financial institutions located in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area declared that they should assist medium-sized and small businesses in improving environmental financial problems. However, the results have proved to be ineffective. On the other hand, in Saitama Prefecture, the number of business ventures in organic farming using agricultural land has increased rapidly. Moreover, social entrepreneur planning for renewable energy at solar parks will increase as a response to the disaster at the Fukushima Atomic Power Plant on 11th March 2011.To realize environmental and social projects, the acceptance of new business ventures by the New Agricultural Land Act, the diffusion of renewable energy, the movement from donation to investment and the introduction of social banks at regional financial institutions in Saitama Prefecture are essential. The Saitama Prefecture Agency and regional financial institutions should establish a social financial system for assisting environmental and social businesses.departmental bulletin pape