Paper short abstract:

Past and present efforts to reignite declining rural communities by reconsideration and exploitation of their architectural assets.

Paper long abstract:

Secluded Nanyo (South Ehime) showed early awareness of the fragility of its built environment. Uchiko was one of the first councils in Japan to implement large scale patrimony protection policies, targeting the Yokaichi-Gokoku District, menaced by a rapidly declining context (Important Traditional Townscape registration process, 1975-1982, 八日市護国町並み保存). A series of innovative plans followed: the Ishidatami cultural landscape regeneration project -muranami hozon- (1987-1994, 石畳村並保存) or the reconstruction of Ozu Castle 's keep (1994 - 2004, 大洲城天守閣復元). All pioneering projects nationwide.

Although acclaimed and successful in restoring edifices, such efforts did not suffice to reignite economies or tackle decay. Ageing communities, abandoned houses and a lacklustre economy still pervade nowadays.

During the last decade a new set of preservation initiatives have been launched with a similar aim: to rejuvenate the area and find remedy against depopulation (mostly under a tourist development agenda). The vast majority of them spurred by the decision of the MLIT via the Japan Tourism Agency to create DMO's -local management organizations- (2015) and its engagement to renovate a myriad of kominka 古民家 under the supervision of the rekishi shigen wo katsuyoshita kankomachidukuri advisory panel (2016), 歴史的資源を活用した観光まちづくり.

Through the detailed study of four different scenarios we would like to illustrate these newer strategies and confront them to past initiatives in order to contribute to the debate on urban resilience and ailing rural communities. Artistic driven Kiya Ryokan 木屋旅館 (Uwajima, 2012), community enhancing Uchiko Bare 内子晴れ (Uchiko, 2017), a corporate initiative resulting in a set of inns at Uchiko no Yado 内子の宿 (Uchiko, 2018) or an intricate network of inns, shops and co-working spaces promoted by Ozu's municipality (Ozu Nipponia + Castle stay, Ozu, 2020) are believed to be representative of current efforts implemented in the region to challenge the future.