Gaps and Limitations - Contrasting Attitudes to Newcomers and Their Role in a Japanese Island Community

広島大学総合博物館研究報告 Issue 12 Page 31-46 published_at 2020-12-25
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Title ( eng )
Gaps and Limitations - Contrasting Attitudes to Newcomers and Their Role in a Japanese Island Community
Creator
Qu Meng
Miyagawa Coulton Tom
Funck Carolin
Source Title
広島大学総合博物館研究報告
Bulletin of the Hiroshima University Museum
Issue 12
Start Page 31
End Page 46
Journal Identifire
[PISSN] 1884-4243
[EISSN] 1884-3999
[NCID] AA12459864
Abstract
The historical harbor village of Mitarai on the island of Osakishimojima epitomizes the problem of social decline in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. This research focuses on both Mitarai’s local community and the wider society. Through conducting a year-long survey of island residents, this research highlights how villagers expect to overcome the challenges relating to tourism development, maintenance of festivals and attracting in-migrants during a time when severe shrinkage, aging, and economic stagnation hinders all forms of community revitalization. Many residents wanted more people to know about Mitarai and its charms. The authors responded by creating an exhibition about Mitarai at the Hiroshima University Museum that promoted the town and the region to a young generation of students and other museum visitors. The results of a survey conducted among museum visitors showed how the exhibition increased awareness of Mitarai as a destination and respondents were more willing to support Mitarai’s annual festival. However, they were less likely to relocate permanently to the island. The research on the island combined with the subsequent survey of museumgoers highlighted a disparity between the hopes of the community and the reality of the situation. This paper considers the recent emergence of in-migrants with a relational role in revitalization and commuters with small businesses aimed at both locals and tourists as the main mechanisms for overcoming social decline and bringing vitality back to the community.
Keywords
Relational Population
In-migrants
Community Revitalization
Declining Island
Rural Japan
Descriptions
The lead author was supported by the Hiroshima University TAOYAKA Program for creating a flexible, enduring, peaceful society, which is funded by the Program for Leading Graduate Schools at the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Language
eng
Resource Type departmental bulletin paper
Publisher
広島大学総合博物館
Date of Issued 2020-12-25
Rights
Copyright (c) 2020 広島大学総合博物館 Hiroshima University Museum
Publish Type Version of Record
Access Rights open access
Source Identifier
[ISSN] 1884-3999
[NCID] AA12459864