Ethnic Resources and Local Revitalization: Focusing on "Multicultural Coexistence" and "Community Building"

Abstract

text紀要論文 / Departmental Bulletin PaperThis study aims to understand how local revitalization can be promoted through relying on ethnic resources in present-day Japanese society. First, we examine the requirements for promoting local revitalization, relying on ethnic resources from two perspectives: growth of ethnic businesses and plurality of positions involved in local revitalization. Next, a trial analysis of several case studies in Japan is conducted, focusing on the Shin-Okubo area of Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo, Osaka Korea Town in Ikuno Ward in Osaka City, Oizumi Town in Gunma Prefecture, and Tsurumi Ward in Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture. The findings identified were as follows: First, local revitalization requires not just reliance on ethnic resources and activities of ethnic minorities but also the involvement of ethnic majority groups and the local government. However, "who" provides the resources and activities and "which" ones are effective vary by region, and it is necessary to explore how these work in a mutually complementary way. Second, local revitalization in Japan is promoted by the connection between "multicultural coexistence (Tabunkakyosei )" and "community building (Machizukuri )," two different concepts often linked by a rise in commercialism in the context of competition between cities. However, this connection does not necessarily show the same pattern, differing from region to region based on the multiple actors involved. Therefore, the possible issues of "what elements" are selectively extracted from "multicultural coexistence" and "what members" share this as "community building" need to be addressed in future research through related discussions, as the tentative examination conducted in this study allow following the changes in economic activities of ethnic minorities in Japan and capture "local revitalization" in more detail in a multicultural context.departmental bulletin pape