2008年度の活動報告
1. Overview of activities
On-site interviews were conducted at two organizations that had somewhat ceased activities, five organizations and regions that were still active, of which three were nationally well-known organizations and regions, and two were not so well-known nationally.
In addition, we requested three business managers who understood the purpose of our research group through past field surveys to give lectures. Although the nature and scale of their businesses differed, they were all rooted in the local area, and their thesis or activities involved solving local problems (declining competitiveness of specialty products, depopulation, deterioration of local resources).
An overview of these activities is summarized in the table below.
Community business, by its very definition, emphasizes the importance of the "aspiration" to solve local problems, and of course this should not be denied. However, while the "aspiration" and "passion" are essential conditions, in order for an organization to continue, leaders are required to do what is expected of ordinary managers (and sometimes even more than that), and various mechanisms and mechanisms are necessary.
Figuring out what these things specifically are has been a consistent theme of our research group over the past few years.
In addition to the above, this year's research has revealed that when starting something, it is also important to consider what efforts have been made prior to it. Small successes before big successes, and the trust and connections between people cultivated through small things done before doing big things, are very important in making a business successful in a community.
Next year, in addition to our existing concerns, we would like to delve deeper into what happens before the establishment of community businesses and how this impacts their existence after establishment.
Table 2008 Activities List
|
times |
Date and Time |
theme |
Main Contents |
|
1 |
September 11-14, 2009
|
Field survey |
This article covers the process of revitalizing a shopping street that was once said to be like most shopping streets in rural areas across Japan, where "only cats and dogs walk" and "no one will die even if a gun is fired" by adopting the concept of "Showa." This time, we conducted extensive interviews with people involved. |
|
2 |
October 4, 2009 |
Field survey |
The NPO Entrepreneur Support Network is a nationally renowned intermediary organization for developing entrepreneurs, especially women, who are leaders in community businesses. We interviewed the founder and representative of the organization about the history of its founding and its current situation. |
|
3 |
October 8, 2009
October 15, 2009
October 22, 2009
|
Seminars |
A total of three seminars were held for Nerima residents in collaboration with Nerima Ward, with Ei Nagasawa, representative director of the NPO Community Business Support Center, as lecturer. |
|
4 |
October 24, 2009 |
Lectures |
Showa50Until around 2000, the hot springs had been steadily declining, but now they are20A lecture on the process over the years of how it has become one of the most popular hot springs in the country. |
|
5 |
October 5th-6th, 2009
|
Field survey |
A survey was conducted mainly on the management aspects of the theme park, which is the core of Yomitan Village's revitalization project. |
|
6 |
February 4-5, 2010
|
Field survey |
past1Having gained an understanding of the current situation through previous interviews and lectures, this time we conducted extensive interviews with people involved in this initiative, including the mayor. |
|
7 |
February 23, 2010 |
Field survey |
The Onda shopping district in Shimo-Suwa-machi, Nagano Prefecture, was slowly losing its former glory as a key road location and an industrial center, but thanks to the efforts of the Okamisan Association and the establishment of a manufacturing space in the shopping district, it is regaining its vitality. We covered this process. |
|
8 |
March 8-9, 2010 |
Field survey |
Among the incubators around the country, the Hanamaki City Entrepreneurship Support Center is famous as one of the few successful cases. Based on the hypothesis that the success of the center is largely due to the existence of the industry-academia-government community called the Iwate Network System, which was formed before the incubator was established and is centered around the Hanamaki Industrial Club and Iwate University, we conducted a preliminary interview a year ago. This time, based on the same hypothesis, we expanded the scope of our interviews and conducted a survey. |
|
9 |
May 9, 2009 |
No.1Meeting |
Formulation of annual plan |
|
10 |
June 17, 2009 |
No.2Meeting |
Deciding on annual plan |
|
11 |
October 17, 2009
March 26, 2009
|
No.3Meeting |
Progress report |