Resolution of Regional Issues at the Yamae Village Community Development Research Institute

The current article reports on community development and activities to solve problems in Yamae Village, Kumamoto Prefecture. Collaborative research with Yamae Village started in summer 2015. It aims to revitalize community development through the organization of a consortium-type group by Yamae Village and by introducing external perspectives and research findings. Thus far, collaborative research has contributed to the drafting of the Strategy to Revitalize Yamae Village by Information to achieve the four objectives and 62 policies set in the Comprehensive Strategy for Overcoming Population Decline and Revitalizing Local Economies. The Strategy to Revitalize Yamae Village by Information has reviewed 62 policies in terms of 4 perspectives: (1) Affinity with ICT, (2) effectiveness, (3) cost performance, and (4) urgency, and has defined 4 priority areas in information strategy, namely agriculture, the environment and disaster prevention, welfare, and human resource development. A five-year plan for the period 2016 to 2020 has been drafted for the priority areas by adding qualitative objectives to the quantitative objectives in the Comprehensive Strategy for Overcoming Population Decline and Revitalizing Local Economies. In the field of agriculture, one priority area in the information strategy, namely collaborative research, has contributed to drafting the plan to promote school dinners and reach the ideal of“ locally produced, locally consumed” in the community and research on the branding of the chestnuts. Currently, we are engaged in managing the progress of these projects. Yamae Village Community Development Research Institute was established in January 2016. The institute engages in research and policy recommendations to solve problems in the community. In addition, collaborative research is involved in the running and planning thereof. The major activities of the Institute comprise three areas: research, ICT, and human resource development. Specifically, it is involved in identifying problems in the community through research and investigation, planning the use of ICT to benefit residents of Yamae Village, and providing learning opportunities for community development and entrepreneurship support, as well as in assisting community development by the villagers. Yamae Village Community Development Research Institute connects the village office and villagers and serves as the support base for community development lead by the villagers.教員研究論文Faculty Paper