
RELATED EVENTEmbrace Rural: Why it MattersTuesday, October 22, 6:30 PM |
CURRENT PROJECT
March 2019—November 2019
Niigata and Yamagata, Japan; New York, USA
Building on the success of Resilient and Vibrant Rural Communities in Japan and the U.S., Japan Society and the Japan NPO Center bring together Richard McCarthy, Ryoko Sato and Tsuyoshi Sekihara to explore Tsuyoshi Sekihara’s work and ideas around revitalizing rural communities.
Sekihara’s work is built on the idea that there must be a dedicated organization in a rural community to provide critical social services, a sense of place grounded in local cultural heritage, and a fan base. He has identified 12 practical functions that an organization must provide in support of the community to generate health and wellness and ensure democracy. At the center of his work is the idea of autonomy for communities that are “the right size.”
The goal of this project is to bring inspiration to rural leaders in the United States and beyond by publishing an analysis of Tsuyoshi Sekihara’s work, and to share and discuss his ideas with leaders and practitioners in the U.S. in a public forum and a workshop for university students.
Video
Embrace Rural: Why It Matters
Innovators
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Richard McCarthy Executive Director, Slow Food USA Brooklyn, New York |
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Ryoko Sato* Associate Professor, Ehime University Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture |
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Tsuyoshi Sekihara Representative, Soma Office, Regional Resource and Industry Advisor; Founder & former Executive Director, Kamiechigo Yamazato Fan Club Joetsu, Niigata Precture |