The Kyotango City Omiya Minami Satojikara Revitalization Committee and KRC Sign a Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement for Building an Environment that Fosters Well-being

Kyoto University’s Kokoro Research Center and the Kyotango City Omiya Minami Satojikara Revitalization Committee signed “comprehensive collaboration agreement for “Building an Environment that Fosters Well-being” on March 23, 2018.

The Kyotango City Omiya Minami Satojikara Revitalization Committee is a conglomeration of five towns surrounding Kyotango City (Kamitsuneyoshi, Shimotsuneyoshi, Okuono, Taniuchi, and Misaka). The committee was formed to serve the common goal of regional revitalization.

Academic and field research will be conducted on happiness and interpersonal connection as a means of renewing a sense of richness in the community.
Dr. Yukiko Uchida has been conducting interview surveys in the area since 2014. Beginning in 2018, her team will make proposals based on analysis of this research.

Mr. Hidenori Kuriyama (Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Commerce Dept.) and Mr. Etsuo Yasuda (Director of Kyotango City, Omiya City Office, Community Service Dept.) were invited as guests to the agreement signing ceremony. At the ceremony, attended by Mr. Katsuhiko Kawaguchi (the president of the committee), Prof. Sakiko Yoshikawa (the first director of the KRC), Dr. Uchida and researchers, the agreement was explained and signed by the two parties.






“Research on happiness and interpersonal connection”, Kyoto Shimbun, 3/26/18


Comprehensive collaboration agreement for “Building an Environment that Fosters Well-being” signed by Kyoto University’s Kokoro Research Center and the Kyotango City Omiya Minami Satojikara Revitalization Committee

1. Background

Modern Japan has seen a shift in what is considered “rich”, from “material” richness to the richness of “kokoro”. Taking this change into consideration, the Kyotango City Omiya Minami Satojikara Revitalization Committee has set an objective to build “a revitalized community where everyone has a sense of well-being”. The plan aims to build an environment that fosters wellbeing and 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.

2. Research methods/results

Surveys will be conducted within targeted parts of the Omiya Minami area of Kyotango City.
Surveys conducted throughout the entirety of the Omiya Minami region of Kyotango City will be analyzed.
Results from Kyotango City Omiya Minami will be compared with the results from other regions to better understand what understanding of community reflects a diverse sense of well-being.

3. Future plans

The administration of local government will run with the goal of creating “a sense of well-being”.
The regional differences between Tohoku and Kansai will be analyzed to facilitate the development of local communities across the country, in a way that takes regional cultural differences into consideration. Local communities can contribute to the spread of a “sense of well-being”.

4. Research Development Project

JST/RISTEX Design for a sustainable and symbiotic multigenerational society.

2018/04/19