106
one embedded in the global system (Past 2 state in Fig. 5.2) by increasing economic
capital. Towards the future, other changes in larger systems such as national policy
reforms, globalization, and demographic changes would predetermine the possible
directions of system transition. The possible transitional space is termed as pathway
of possibilities as shown in Fig. 5.2 (Wilson 2008).
Apart from the original three pathways, the marginalization pathway is becoming more and more realistic as the fourth possibility for today’s rural regions in
Japan (Fig. 5.2). The marginalization denotes an excessive degree of qualitative
decline in community vitality as well as collective actions of residents in the
rural communities (Kudo and Yarime 2013). Community vitality is a relatively
new concept and it refers to the ability of a community to “sustain itself into the
future as well as provide opportunities for its residents to pursue their own life
goals and the ability of residents to experience positive life outcomes” (Crandall
and Etuk 2008).
As a rural area enters this marginalization pathway, residents experience declines
in various aspects in living conditions such as mobility and access to basic items
(Asai et al. 2012; Kuramochi et al. 2014), management of vacant houses and abandoned farmlands (Ishimaru 2009; Shinobe and Miyachi 2012; Yamamoto and
Nakazono 2008), and seasonal events and daily chores such as grasscutting in cemetery areas, removing mud and leaves clogging water channels, and cleanups along
residential roads (Niinuma 2009; Tamasato 2009). These declines in the communities are considered possible threats to the well-being of residents.
Today, community marginalization is expanding to the small-size municipalities
such as villages and towns in Japan, and has ceased to be an issue in rural communities. Knowing aging and shrinking population will most likely drive a rural system
to its next transition, it is becoming critical for rural residents to take their own initiatives in responding to the emerging challenges. To implement such initiatives,
rural residents must discuss and envision the future they want to have in their own
communities. The following section introduces a placemaking workshop conducted
with a group of local youths in Gojome, Akita prefecture, Japan, as an example case
of such local initiative.
5.3 Envisioning a Sustainable Community in an Aging
and Shrinking Society: Case of Monogartari Workshop
in Gojome Town
5.3.1 Context
Gojome is located in central Akita (Fig. 5.3). The town is largely agrarian but also
known for its forestry and timber processing industry. The population is 9269 and
the proportion of residents age 65 and older is 42.4% as of October, 2016. Akita has
been known as the prefecture with the highest proportion of population age 65 and
S. Kudo
one embedded in the global system (Past 2 state in Fig. 5.2) by increasing economic
capital. Towards the future, other changes in larger systems such as national policy
reforms, globalization, and demographic changes would predetermine the possible
directions of system transition. The possible transitional space is termed as pathway
of possibilities as shown in Fig. 5.2 (Wilson 2008).
Apart from the original three pathways, the marginalization pathway is becoming more and more realistic as the fourth possibility for today’s rural regions in
Japan (Fig. 5.2). The marginalization denotes an excessive degree of qualitative
decline in community vitality as well as collective actions of residents in the
rural communities (Kudo and Yarime 2013). Community vitality is a relatively
new concept and it refers to the ability of a community to “sustain itself into the
future as well as provide opportunities for its residents to pursue their own life
goals and the ability of residents to experience positive life outcomes” (Crandall
and Etuk 2008).
As a rural area enters this marginalization pathway, residents experience declines
in various aspects in living conditions such as mobility and access to basic items
(Asai et al. 2012; Kuramochi et al. 2014), management of vacant houses and abandoned farmlands (Ishimaru 2009; Shinobe and Miyachi 2012; Yamamoto and
Nakazono 2008), and seasonal events and daily chores such as grasscutting in cemetery areas, removing mud and leaves clogging water channels, and cleanups along
residential roads (Niinuma 2009; Tamasato 2009). These declines in the communities are considered possible threats to the well-being of residents.
Today, community marginalization is expanding to the small-size municipalities
such as villages and towns in Japan, and has ceased to be an issue in rural communities. Knowing aging and shrinking population will most likely drive a rural system
to its next transition, it is becoming critical for rural residents to take their own initiatives in responding to the emerging challenges. To implement such initiatives,
rural residents must discuss and envision the future they want to have in their own
communities. The following section introduces a placemaking workshop conducted
with a group of local youths in Gojome, Akita prefecture, Japan, as an example case
of such local initiative.
5.3 Envisioning a Sustainable Community in an Aging
and Shrinking Society: Case of Monogartari Workshop
in Gojome Town
5.3.1 Context
Gojome is located in central Akita (Fig. 5.3). The town is largely agrarian but also
known for its forestry and timber processing industry. The population is 9269 and
the proportion of residents age 65 and older is 42.4% as of October, 2016. Akita has
been known as the prefecture with the highest proportion of population age 65 and
S. Kudo