Population decline is assumed to affect the size of non-profit organizations(NPOs). However, to my knowledge, no previous studies have empirically examined this phenomenon. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of population decline on NPO density. This study identifies three legally recognized activities in community development in Japan: promoting community development, engaging in tourism, and revitalizing rural areas or hilly and mountainous areas. The number of NPOs engaged in these three activities forms one of representative sectors in Japan. This study used pooled data on the density of NPOs in the field of community development within municipalities from 2013 to 2019 from 19 prefectures. The population change was analyzed using three indicators: municipalities' population movement, live birth, and death rates. This study reveals that lower population movement, live birth, and death rates in municipalities were consistently associated with a higher density of NPOs in the field of community development.

This study analyzes youths' donation behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of symbolic interactionism. Intriguingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, a paradox unfolded where youth, though expected to need support, donated at levels comparable to or even exceeding those of other generations. This study adopts symbolic interactionism as its theoretical framework to understand this phenomenon, highlighting the influence of youth's world of meanings on their donation. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted with youths in their 20s in Japan about their donation to pandemic-related causes, the study found that while some young people donated with a specific purpose, others did so for reasons that may not align with the conventional explanation of donation. These young people described donating as a thoughtless act, often without any specific reason. Despite a lack of concern for the outcomes of their donations, youths were aware of social expectations surrounding giving. Instead of consistently expressing a fixed motive, youths shaped their explanations of donation through the process of expressing and reflecting during the interviews. This study attempts to apply symbolic interactionism to donation behaviors, highlighting the complex social dynamics that influence youths' donation behavior as well as how they express their behaviors.

This study aimed to assess the organizational capacity and advocacy of women's organizations in Japan. It drew on the original survey data collected by the authors. The findings revealed that although these organizations frequently operate with limited financial and human resources, approximately half of them report engaging in some form of advocacy, primarily at the local level. Compared with other civil society organizations, women's organizations tend to have weaker financial and human resources. At the national level, the intensity of advocacy is considerably shaped by organizational resources, particularly the number of members. By contrast, at the local level, organizational resources do not have a positive or significant effect. Network-based resources play critical roles at both levels. National-level advocacy is most often facilitated through alliances with political parties whereas local-level engagement depends more heavily on relationships with government officials. These findings highlight the need for greater institutional support, particularly in the form of funding and support from professional personnel with relevant expertise, to strengthen the advocacy infrastructure of women's organizations. Furthermore, expanding the number of legislators and civil servants who are knowledgeable about gender equality is vital for promoting meaningful policy change.

Tomonoura is a region that experienced a landscape conflict lasting approximately 30 years, triggered by a land reclamation and bridge construction plan at Tomo Port. This study focuses on the period after the plan's cancellation in 2016 and aims to elucidate the transformation of mutual recognition among actors involved in tourism-oriented community development in the post-conflict context. Through interpretive phenomenological analysis, it was confirmed that while discrepancies in recognition persist among local government officials, NPOs, and newcomers according to their respective positions, there are emerging possibilities for collaboration based on shared values, particularly the notion of "coexistence between humans and the environment." Furthermore, the study reveals the growing limitations of relying on "collective memory", which had traditionally underpinned community-based development, and highlights the increasing importance of new value-sharing practices rooted in the "sense of place." By illustrating the transformation of relationships and value foundations in a post-conflict regional society, this study underscores the necessity of adopting a relational values perspective within tourism policy and planning.

In Japan, there is a movement to certify areas where biodiversity is conserved by the private sector as OECM (other effective area-based conservation measures) and expectations toward conservation NPOs are increasing. While Japanese conservation NPOs face a shortage of funding and human resources, U.S. conservation NPOs seem to be able to secure these resources. Clarifying how U.S. conservation NPOs acquire these resources would provide some suggestions for Japanese NPOs on how to make their activities sustainable. However, there has been no previous research. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with conservation NPOs and university volunteers in California. The results indicated the conservation NPOs interviewed operate the organizations with a minimal number of staff and incorporate a large number of student volunteers to increase the efficiency of their operations and activities. This was due to the social norms in which many students participate in volunteer to pursue higher education and employment, as well as the culture of donation in the U.S.