The Spatialization of a Planning Void: Wind Energy Siting, Fragmented Governance, and Land-Use Conflict in Japan

While multi-level governance (MLG) is central to energy transition studies, existing research is dominated by European models of integrated planning. There is a critical gap in understanding how transitions unfold in contexts of institutional fragmentation and weak national land-use guidance, particularly in non-Western industrialized nations. This article analyzes the rescaling of land-use governance for onshore wind energy in Japan post-Fukushima. It aims to map the national-scale spatial outcomes of a fragmented policy landscape, analyze the institutional architecture of this "planning void," and theorize the emergent role of local governments as de facto energy planners. A mixed-methods design combines a nationwide GIS-based spatial analysis of 1,799 wind turbines against regulatory and environmental datasets, and a qualitative institutional analysis of national laws and sub-national planning guidelines. The national government’s failure to provide an integrated spatial strategy has created a planning void, leading to the concentration of wind turbines in weakly regulated rural and environmentally sensitive areas. This "rescaling by abdication" has catalyzed policy innovation at the prefectural and municipal levels. However, this bottom-up response results in a fragmented, unpredictable regulatory landscape, posing risks to energy justice, investment certainty, and the achievement of national climate targets. The article introduces the concept of "rescaling by abdication" as a distinct mode of energy governance. By contrasting Japan's experience with Germany, Denmark, the UK, and South Korea, it offers a novel typology of state engagement in energy transitions and provides critical, transferable lessons for managing the spatial politics of DE carbonization globally.