Fostering New Participants in Community Activities through Awareness and Action

A Practice of Exhibition, Activities, and Management of “Everyone’s Place Atsumin” in Atsuta, Ishikari City, Hokkaido

Abstract

This study explores how new participants in community activities emerge in depopulated areas, focusing on how individuals develop and act upon their sense of community. It examines “Atsumin,” a community space in Atsuta, Ishikari City, Hokkaido, established to expand children’s experiences and local connections. The study analyzes how exhibition-based presentations encourage participation and make self-realization visible. It also investigates how addressing psychological barriers and flexible opportunities provided by organizers support continuous engagement and collaborative community development.