Conceptualizing communicative spaces in rural areas in Japan and Germany

Rural areas in Japan have been facing challenges due to ongoing demographic decline and high rates of aging. Against this backdrop, research points out increasing difficulties in sustaining local communities, their traditions and their resilience towards disasters. Despite and also because of these dynamics, rural areas simultaneously are home to vibrant places that offer space for deliberation, communication, networking and political activities. While some of these spaces can be small in size, focusing on specific local problems, others may have goals reaching far beyond the local sphere. This workshop (language: English) brings together scholars who have been analyzing and conceptualizing such spaces in their research in Japan and Germany. In the first part, each speaker presents their approach to these spaces in an open discussion format amongst the participants. The second part opens the floor to a small-scale audience to conceptualize together these dynamic spaces and to reflect on the differences between Japan and Germany. We also invite guests who play an active role in communicative spaces to share their experiences and engage in discussion with the speakers. The aim of the workshop is to exchange ideas on how these places might help to deal with current challenges in rural areas and to establish a network of scholars and practitioners working on the topic.

Program

11:00-11:15 Opening remarks

11:15-12:00 Claudia Neu (Universität Göttingen)

12:00-12:45 Sebastian Polak-Rottmann (DIJ Tokyo)

12:45-14:15 Lunch break

14:14-15:00 Okada Norio (Kyoto University)

15:00-15:45 Yama Yoshiyuki (Kwansei Gakuin University)

15:45-16:15 Coffee break

16:15-17:45 Open discussion