Places and Structures of Resilience in Rural Communities in Japan
Places and Structures of Resilience in Rural Communities in Japan
Speaker
Dr. Sebastian Polak-Rottmann (German Institute for Japanese Studies DIJ, Tokyo)
Date and Time
September 22, 2025, 2 pm - 3.45 pm
Venue
Rämistrasse 59, CH-8006 Zurich, Room RAA-G-15
Abstract
Japan’s rural areas have been facing demographic decline and ageing for several decades. Yet, even in today’s villages and towns, relations of mutual trust and help are understood as pillars of local resilience in the event of a disaster. How do local communities adapt to a shrinking populace and at the same time to other “persistent disruptive stressors” (Okada 2018) such as earthquakes or heavy rainfalls? Based on qualitative fieldwork in three rural areas in Tottori, Kumamoto and Tokyo Prefectures (2023-2025), this lecture introduces places and structures of resilience to understand processes of change and transformation in contemporary rural neighbourhoods. It discusses abandoned schools, community cafés, community centres, and bars as locations for communicative exchange that initiates efforts to redesign the respective rural communities. “Linking agents” (Jentzsch & Polak-Rottmann, 2024) such as the head of a settlement or a social welfare commissioner (minsei’iin) among others help translating objectives of the national and local policy to local people and offer a framing scheme for existing and new initiatives. As a conclusion, population decline, and ageing are presented in diversified way. They both challenge existing patters of community life and open up pathways for new ruralities.
Organization
Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies - Japanese Studies