Community Foundations and Social Investments in Japan

Abstract

A discussion on Japanese modern civil society would be incomplete without the mention of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. The giant earthquake not only inflicted enormous damage, with casualties amounting to over 6400, but also exposed the fragility of the many different things developed in pursuit of convenience and comfort, which in the past were believed to be part of an effective system. It is said that during the first three months following the earthquake, roughly 1.17 million people served as volunteers in the disaster-hit areas, and 1995 is often referred to in Japan as the starting year of volunteerism. Non-profit activities, which were institutionalised in Japan three years after the 1995 earthquake, have also undergone significant changes. This chapter provides an overview of the transformation of the Japanese society in the context of “the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake” by exploring several topics related to civic activities, including community foundations and social investments.