Abstract
The purpose of this study is to discuss the possibility of the rural village based on experiences in the community improvement projects that the author engaged in the Wara Region, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Gujo City was born in a municipality merger in 2004. The Wara Region has the highest population aging rate out of seven old local governments. In the Wara Region, the population of January, 2015 was 1,849, and the region’s population saw a 20% decrease in the past 10 years. The population aging rate has reached 41.0%. No policy to stop the shrinking population and high population aging rate could be found. However, in recent years, a collaborative activity by the inhabitants, community improvement groups, administrative officers, the NPO, and professors and university student is carried out actively. The community improvement activity in the Wara Region asks community members about the meaning of activity for village maintenance. The problem facing the rural village is individual family affairs at the same time as regional issues. This activity promotes awareness of people for rural development and strengthens relationships with children living away from home. It provides a new viewpoint for rural development in addition to promoting tourism and population growth.
