2007 Volume 5 Pages 98-120
This thesis examines the factors which lead to the reconstruction of the communities to deal with emerging local problems caused by urbanism, economical-social changes, and diverse needs of the residents.
Mutual support systems based on Jichikai (Neighborhood Association), traditional local residents' groups, have been weakened in these days. For making up for the weakened systems, municipalities in urban areas have organized various groups in accordance with above-mentioned problems and functions. It is resulted in dividing residents into groups such as groups of different generations, problem areas and affiliations, and then municipal policies about communities sank into the dilemma.
Therefore, municipalities are now trying to form various locally based groups to work together and to organize them as inclusive community. However, this kind of organizing works initiated by municipalities have various problems. Under this situation, intermediary nonprofit organizations, trying to undertake some issues from public service, have appeared. Then, it is expected that cooperation and network of Jichikai, various locally based groups, and non profit organizations will reconstruct local communities.
In this paper I analyze how these phenomena progress in the City of Toyonaka, Osaka.
The key findings are 1) Jichikai has to change into a decision-making body by all residents from community for their majority, 2) it is necessary to find the way to settle different interests and reach to a consensus; in other words, the self-governing body, serving for coordination and judgment from a public view point, need to be created, and 3) intermediary nonprofit organizations need to participate in public service activities with self-motivation and cooperation spirits, as the infrastructure of locally based groups. Thus, this thesis concludes that it is necessary to radically rethink what is public service and create originally-new self-govern system of community by participation and cooperation.
