Communities in Post-3.11 Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review the two-year discussions about “Communities in Post-3.11 Japan” and to clarify outcomes and unsolved problems. In the symposium of 2013 annual meeting, we discussed various divides that appear among local residents as a recovery proceeds. In the symposium of 2014 annual meeting, we discussed continuity of the center-periphery structure that has been built through a modernization process in Japan. On the other hand, we can observe lots of grass-roots activities by local residents for their own recovery, cooperating with local government, NPOs and supporters from other local communities. It may be said that the most important finding from the two-year discussions and case studies is that we identify a coexistence of two opposite facts. One is that there exists the center-periphery structure at macro level, and the other is that there also exists a grass-root activity at micro level. The former can work against a local community, whereas the latter can be a site for resistance. However, a problem is left behind us; how do we explain the coexistence of two opposite facts theoretically? Facts themselves do not tell anything about it. Besides discussions above, we have been facing other problem for the past two years. As scholars who engage in regional and community studies, how can we support damaged communities and people? I think that we have to continue to ask the question in our own way.