In this study, we tried to grasp the context and character of Japan's situation and counter - response in the era of declining population, focusing especially on the debate over the Local extinction approach and the Regional Revitalization policy. With the announcement of the Masuda's report that the population is declining and the provinces are disappearing due to the concentration of large cities, the Abe regime has pursued regional revitalization policies. In this process, first, there are debates between local extinction approach and Critical Views. Second, the Regional Revitalization policy is going to proceed in the framework of the new inter-governmental relationship rather than the past. However, there are also path-dependent limitations such as government-led scope and inducement of inter-provincial competition by subsidies. In conclusion, we need to ① establish the philosophy of local revitalization, ② transform the policy-driven manner based on decentralized view, and ③ establish and promote the policy program by self-awareness of the local self.