In Japan, business continuity plan/management (BCP/BCM) is recognized as a very significant issue as in other advanced countries, because of the great earthquake disasters in 2004 and 2007 in Niigata Prefecture that caused disruptions of many small and medium sized production companies as well as forcing all Japanese automobile manufacturers to cease production for several days. However, according to some reports the BCP establishment rate in Japan is still low. This study focuses on Ojiya City, which was seriously affected by the Niigataken Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004. The production industries have a concentrated presence in Ojiya City, making it an excellent case study for clarifying the disincentives to BC planning at small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as demonstrating a new concept for increasing regional resilience, because it represents areas of potential resource consolidation for cooperation within the industrial community, the regional civic community and other remote regions. As a result, several key elements are proposed that may support “ regional BCP” that may consequently lead to true “ regional resiliency.”

JEL Classification: L29, R00, Z00