Sustainable Activities for Rural Development

Abstract

In Japan which is heading straight to an ageing society with a declining birth rate, population decline is a serious issue. Many rural districts are advancing efforts which are different from tourism for attracting urban dwellers to rural areas. The focus of this paper is the examples of rural revitalisation through “exchange with a particular purpose”.

The first case is support for rural districts by businesses. The important key for guaranteeing regional sustainability is in building a win-win business relationship, as rural communities and corporations work together to rediscover local resources and make full use of each other’s forte, rather than a one-sided relationship where rural communities provide opportunities for farming to corporations as a service.

The second case is support for rural districts by young people from the cities. The key feature of the case example is that young people from cities not only come to the area to secure a place for enjoying mountain activity but are engaged to no small extent in the sustainability of the rural region.

Challenges such as the increase in disused farmlands and desolation of the forests caused by the ageing population, declining birth rate and depopulation can transform to appealing resources for city dwellers (workers).

For people living in cities and corporations, activities which let them feel the soil and commune with nature hold new hidden values such as the refreshment of the body and mind, formation of intercommunity and the joy of creating a place for shared enjoyment.