Hita Workshop: Machizukuri Initiatives and Adaptive Governance in a Rural Japanese City

This hybrid bilingual workshop focused on local initiatives in response to the current challenges facing regional Japan, exemplified by the city of Hita in Ōita Prefecture. The event combined the perspectives of two scholars on this area in Northern Kyushu and one practitioner from the field. It addressed aspects of local resilience in times of disruption and postgrowth. The speakers illustrated two different revitalization approaches, displaying the merits and limitations of tourist-based machizukuri, or “town-making” activities. Furthermore, the workshop explored community resilience in the face of challenging times by examining the relationship between local governance structures and vigilance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the workshop was to critically engage in a discussion about adaptation processes in rural Japan. Investigating the same region from three different angles facilitated a more nuanced understanding of social dynamics and societal change. After the three presentations, a panel discussion including Q&A concluded the event.  

Program (JST)

16:00                     Welcoming Remarks (Sebastian Polak-Rottmann, DIJ Tokyo)

16:10-16:40          Popular Culture and Revitalization Initiatives in Hita (Timo Thelen, Kanazawa University)

16:40-17:10          Lessons from 25 Years of Community Building in Hita (Masahiko Nishioka, Hita Place, in Japanese)

17:10-17:40          Community Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Governance and Vigilance in Hita (Paul J. Kramer, LMU Munich)

17:40-17:50          Short Break

17:50-18:30          Panel Discussion and Q&A (Sebastian Polak-Rottmann, DIJ Tokyo)