Takahiro KASAI
Improving Quality of Life in Mountainous Area in Japan A Case Study in Yamakoshi Village
Supervisor: Shoji MATSUMOTO and Satoshi TSUCHIYA
Recent years, in local villages of our country called chu-sankan area (intermediate and mountainous area), declining birthrate and a growing population of elderly people progress faster than in urban areas, which has caused various kinds of problems such as provision of social services, management of local resources and isolation of elderly person who lives alone. On the other hand, sprouts can be seen in several places that social welfare service is executed in cooperation with local people, the municipality, other public service agencies, enterprises and intermediate support organization such as NPO.
It can be considered that there are two major problems in our research target area, Yamakoshi village. The one is on transportation inconvenience, caused by bus lines took off in winter 2007. The other problem is on communication shortage among people, stemming from the neighborhood moved away after the temporary evacuation at the 2004 Chuetsu great earthquake. Peddling service, which is now provided in a part of Yamakoshi, have the potential to contribute to the solution for these problems. While deliverers go round the village for their primary business, they have a chance to call to local people.
A questionnaire survey was conducted to households in the village. It came out primary needs to the peddling service in a certain level and some signs to communication shortage or isolation. In addition, it was made out that those two matters were closely correlated. Senior citizens, especially those who live alone, are in the intersection.
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