2022 Volume 39 Pages 3-20
In recent years, the childcare activity of “Forest Kindergarten” that raises children in nature without having constructed facilities has been attracting attention among the child-rearing generation. In Chizu town, one of Japan’s typical depopulated mountainous areas, the NPO “Forest Kindergarten MARUTAMBO” that was established in 2009.It has developed attractive activities and contributed to regional management. The present study clarified how and why MARUTAMBO took root in Chizu, its background, its childcare philosophy, and the expansion of its activities and organization. Next, characteristics of three phases of the history of the grass-roots residents' autonomy movement that has developed in Chito for 38 years since 1984 are summarized. Finally, the birth of MARUTAMBO is analyzed as part of the history of the residents' autonomy movement.
