My research career consists of four stages. In the first stage (about from 1953 to 1970),my main interest of the research had been placed on theoritical studies of Japanese village community (Mura). At the second stage (about from 1970 to 1985), under the influences of drastic change of rural society and its effect on rural sociology, I gradually diverted research interest from rural studies to family sociology. Speaking of rural studies through this time, I mainly engaged in practical surveys of rural problems. Interest of the studies in the third and fourth stages are almost same direction with second stage. If adding something another through these stages, rural community as an ideal or purposive concept has been becoming one of important perspectives of my rural studies.

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　　　In this paper I discuss the reorganization of rural communities by a formation of a local autonomous organization and social relations of the elderly to other residents in the communities. An investigation was carried out in former Takamiya town in Hiroshima Prefecture. Specifically, efforts have been made to clarify the role of the local autonomous organization to coordinate rural communities and the influences on social relations of the elderly.
　　　In the targeted communities, the increase of the ratio of elder people and the reduction in the number of households have been conspicuous. The local autonomous organization is responsible for supporting their farming and not sufficiently responsible for supporting their livelihoods. The livelihoods are also supported by relationships between the elderly and other residents within communities.

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　　　In this paper we noted that the most important approach to reviving farm villages is to acquire three types of intellectual abilities ― “natural,” “oral,” and “physical” ―as a way to rebuild production and improve the lifestyles of citizens. We also suggested that the government fully examine how to incorporate all these intellectual powers into a farm-village community. We believe this can be done by strengthening the community through real workshops referring to the current conditions in which workshops are losing their effect and are not functioning as motivational grounds to provide the necessary intellectual abilities.
　　　Furthermore, we indicated that one approach toward community rebuilding based on these three types of intellectual abilities is to go through five essential stages step by step: interest, participation, discovery, understanding and creation, and described a case of Y Community in M City which had been practically revived through employing the above five stages.

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