100
Because of a greater degree of aging and shirking population, rural regions in
Japan are already facing the possible risk of community closures. Earlier studies
addressed rural aging and depopulation on different topics such as the decline of
agricultural activities (Ishimaru 2009; Sasaki et al. 2007), general living conditions
in remote communities (Niinuma 2009; Noguchi et al. 2010; Takegawa 2010), and
revitalization of rural economy by increasing interaction with urban residents
(Fujita 2005; Tsutsui et al. 2008). However, what the collection of these challenges
implies as a larger social transition has not been well discussed. Moreover, accumulating discussions from various case studies on what rural sustainability means and
how local residents try to achieve it is essential to better frame a sustainable society
for the future.
5.1.3 Aim of This Chapter
This chapter examines the concept of rural sustainability in the time of an aging and
shrinking society. This will be achieved by first reviewing the past transition patterns
of rural regions based on a multifunctionality framework. This chapter will elaborate
how most rural regions have evolved from a farming-based system to a market-based
system. The application of the multifunctionality framework allows illustrating subsequent possible phases of rural transition driven by an aging and shrinking population. The chapter then provides a review of the placemaking concept, followed by
one case study of a placemaking workshop in the town of Gojome, Akita prefecture,
Japan. This case study describes how a group of nine high school students envisioned the future state of their community. The chapter concludes with some discussion on the framings in rural sustainability, and also topics for further studies.
5.2 Rural System Transition: Multifunctionality Framework
One core challenge for the rural regions where aging and shrinking populations are
omnipresent is establishing a local system that is capable of coping with various
forms of changes in the communities. An analysis of the impact of social changes in
individual communities is important because residents experience actual changes
and organize concrete reactions in their own communities (Holmes 2006; Wilson
2010). Because aging and shrinking populations are changing the quality of communities, a more comprehensive perspective is required to analyze the entire rural
system rather than merely addressing topics individually.
Applying a conceptual framework helps anticipate possible future transitions of
rural regions. For this purpose, the literature on rural transformation (Amcoff and
Westholm 2007; Ilbery 1998) and urban-rural interactions (Caffyn and Dahlström
2005; Dabson 2007; Phillipson and Scharf 2005; Silverstein et al. 2006; Tacoli
1998) is beneficial. Drawing upon these earlier studies based on systems perspective, this study employs a multifunctionality framework to explore future transitions
S. Kudo
Because of a greater degree of aging and shirking population, rural regions in
Japan are already facing the possible risk of community closures. Earlier studies
addressed rural aging and depopulation on different topics such as the decline of
agricultural activities (Ishimaru 2009; Sasaki et al. 2007), general living conditions
in remote communities (Niinuma 2009; Noguchi et al. 2010; Takegawa 2010), and
revitalization of rural economy by increasing interaction with urban residents
(Fujita 2005; Tsutsui et al. 2008). However, what the collection of these challenges
implies as a larger social transition has not been well discussed. Moreover, accumulating discussions from various case studies on what rural sustainability means and
how local residents try to achieve it is essential to better frame a sustainable society
for the future.
5.1.3 Aim of This Chapter
This chapter examines the concept of rural sustainability in the time of an aging and
shrinking society. This will be achieved by first reviewing the past transition patterns
of rural regions based on a multifunctionality framework. This chapter will elaborate
how most rural regions have evolved from a farming-based system to a market-based
system. The application of the multifunctionality framework allows illustrating subsequent possible phases of rural transition driven by an aging and shrinking population. The chapter then provides a review of the placemaking concept, followed by
one case study of a placemaking workshop in the town of Gojome, Akita prefecture,
Japan. This case study describes how a group of nine high school students envisioned the future state of their community. The chapter concludes with some discussion on the framings in rural sustainability, and also topics for further studies.
5.2 Rural System Transition: Multifunctionality Framework
One core challenge for the rural regions where aging and shrinking populations are
omnipresent is establishing a local system that is capable of coping with various
forms of changes in the communities. An analysis of the impact of social changes in
individual communities is important because residents experience actual changes
and organize concrete reactions in their own communities (Holmes 2006; Wilson
2010). Because aging and shrinking populations are changing the quality of communities, a more comprehensive perspective is required to analyze the entire rural
system rather than merely addressing topics individually.
Applying a conceptual framework helps anticipate possible future transitions of
rural regions. For this purpose, the literature on rural transformation (Amcoff and
Westholm 2007; Ilbery 1998) and urban-rural interactions (Caffyn and Dahlström
2005; Dabson 2007; Phillipson and Scharf 2005; Silverstein et al. 2006; Tacoli
1998) is beneficial. Drawing upon these earlier studies based on systems perspective, this study employs a multifunctionality framework to explore future transitions
S. Kudo