Paper short abstract:

My research on Kotaki in Nagano prefecture shows how people strengthened the bonds among neighbors after the March 12, 2011 earthquake, helping people rebuild their lives quickly. Their approach is also applicable to the many communities facing aging and depopulation across Japan.

Paper long abstract:

The important things in everyday life become clear during emergencies such as natural disasters. The risk of losing the relationships between families and their neighbors has been increasing, and this risk is often pointed out when disasters occur. Aging and depopulation are big issues across Japan. Communities in many mountainous areas face challenges maintaining people's livelihoods, and it is a critical situation for maintaining communities.

It is relatively easy for people in urban areas to move to other areas, but it is difficult for people working in primary industries to move to other areas. This is particularly true for seniors; when they give up working in the rice fields or on the sea, it means that they might lose what gives their lives meaning. But if people are unable to earn their living and are unable to make a long-term plan for revitalizing their community, it is impossible for them to live there. Thus, it is very important that we consider how people rebuild and develop their community from the perspective of their everyday lives based on their cultural and social background. I will focus on Kotaki in Nagano prefecture and the system they have used to maintain their community. In addition to aging and depopulation, Kotaki was damaged by the Nagano earthquake on March 12, 2011. The media was slow to report this earthquake, and this area has been called "the forgotten disaster area." People in Kotaki have tried to overcome the problem of aging and depopulation on their own initiative for 40 years.

Through my research, I found that they strengthened the bonds among neighbors for economic activities. The approach in Kotaki has been based on a series of changes and the invention of a system for maintaining their rice fields for a long time. These changes and invention helped people rebuild their lives soon after the earthquake. Therefore, this approach is not limited to the reconstruction of disaster areas but can be shared by many other communities facing aging and depopulation across Japan.