Abstract
Several regions geographically distant from metropolitan areas are currently struggling with rapid changes in their population structures with resulting economic and social stagnation. The urgent need to re-consider the appropriate social structure and social security system to rebuild regional communities into sustainable societies where the natural, social, and economic environments (environment, society, and economy) are well-balanced in anticipation of the post-COVID-19 era has become a pressing matter. It is one of the major social issues for the Japanese government as well. Owing to the abovementioned circumstances, the expectations for social-community contributions are increasingly being assigned as a role for universities.
In this report, a case of regional contribution activity in which the authors have been involved since 2010 in Odai Town in the southern region of Mie Prefecture is introduced to discuss the relevant issues observed (understood) with respect to this activity.