Takizawa City (Iwate Prefecture) and KRC Sign a
"Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement for Building an Environment That Fosters Well-being"

On January 29th, 2018, Kokoro Research Center and Takizawa City (Iwate Prefecture) signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement regarding the building of environments that foster well-being.
The research will be conducted by Dr. Yukiko Uchida. As Takizawa City goes forward with the initial plan, surveys will be conducted, followed by research based in the city.
The agreement ceremony was held at the Inamori Center. In attendance were Mayor Norihide Yanagimura of Takizawa City, Prof. Sakiko Yoshikawa (KRC director), Dr. Uchida and other researchers.
Summary
Takizawa City (Iwate Prefecture) and KRC　have signed a “Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement for Building an Environment That Fosters Well-being”. Academic and field research will be conducted on “happiness” and renewing a sense of richness in the community.
1. Background
Modern Japan has seen a shift in what is considered “rich”, from “material” richness to richness of “kokoro”. Taking this change into consideration, Takizawa City has set an objective to build “a revitalized community where everyone feels a sense of well-being”. The plan aims to build an environment that fosters well-being” where the “richness of kokoro” can be cultivated through a sense of connection with others. This will support the development of the city. To attain this objective, an academic analysis based on empirical data and objective facts are necessary. Dr. Yukiko Uchida and KRC promote research projects conducted by the Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society(RISTEX) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) that aim to “design a sustainable and symbiotic multigenerational society. The project with Takizawa City is a part of this larger project.
2. Research method/result
Survey will be conducted within targeted parts of Takizawa City.
Surveys conducted throughout the entirety of Takizawa City will be analyzed.
Results from Takizawa City will be compared with the results from Kansai region to better understand what sense of community reflects diverse sense of well-being.
3. Ripple effect/Future plan
The local government will run the administration with the goal of creating “a sense of well-being”.
Take advantage of the regional differences between Tohoku and Kansai. Locality can support the spread of a “sense of well-being”.
4. Research Development Project
JST/RISTEX Design for a sustainable and symbiotic multigenerational society.

2018/02/21