Abstract
Little is known about how the intergroup relationship between heterogeneous others, the latest refinement of classic sociological ideas such as civil society and civic solidarity, is effectively built. This study aims to explore the terms and conditions that promote civic solidarity based on social capital theory, and pays particular attention to the effect of shared cultural resource on it. This paper presents a comprehensive study of intergroup relationships among people involved in the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the campaign activities to register it as a world heritage site, analyzing the results from a questionnaire survey and interview research. The results show that sharing cultural resources and normative beliefs promote the mutual understanding between people who are from different backgrounds.
