It is widely recognized that the Japanese “third sector” was one of the principal actors responding to the Great East Japan Earthquake, but the reality is not clearly distinct. If one accepts that the Great East Japan Earthquake was one of the most devastating events in postwar Japanese society, grasping the reality of how the third sector responded should provide an awareness of the state of the third sector in Japan. This study analyzes the results of a quantitative survey of the aid organizations that responded to the Great East Japan Earthquake, paying attention to their legal status, revealing the reality pertaining to the Japanese third sector in responding to problems. The analysis’ results show that the third sector entities responding to the earthquake were composed of specially designated non-profit organizations, voluntary organizations, general corporations, and so forth; the scale of expenditure for assistance per organization was great. It was also revealed that the general corporations became a vehicle for the personal initiatives of individuals who responded in ways tailored specifically to the earthquake.

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This essay discusses the role of local government staffs sent to NPOs to reform their administrative systems. Local administrations work cooperatively with NPOs when they need to understand the internal processes of the organizations. However, there are few studies about the communication among the staff from both sides. To clarify the effectiveness of personal interaction, this study analyzes interviews with the staff of a local government who have worked with a NPO. This study uncovers some essential features of co-working, which is regarded as an indispensable factor to construct society, where players with various backgrounds can be active for the local community.

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