Surveillance Research for Community Regeneration with the Concepts of Welfare, Health and Environment as the Key Themes.

2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 14510225
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 社会学(含社会福祉関係)
• Research Institution: Hosei University
• Principal Investigator: OHYAMA Hiroshi Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Professor, 現代福祉学部, 教授 (40105846)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): BABA Kenichi Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Professor, 現代福祉学部, 教授 (60328903) ; HAGIWARA Shunichi Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Professor, 現代福祉学部, 教授 (70328904) ; OKAZAKI Masayuki Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Professor, 現代福祉学部, 教授 (40275087) ; NIWA Ikuo Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Instructor, 現代福祉学部, 専任講師 (60339512) ; MIYASHIRO Takashi Hosei University, Faculty of Social Policy and Administration, Assistant Professor, 現代福祉学部, 助教授 (70276864)
• Project Period (FY): 2002 – 2003
• Keywords: Well-being / Universal Design / Social Capitals / Kur Staat / Regeneration of Community / Eco Museum / Mental Health / Community Business

Research Abstract

In these years, the issue of community regeneration has become serious social problems. Although these problems mean different to each community, those are roughly classified into the problem of infrastructure, lack of social interaction between individuals and family members, and the problem of ailing local economy. In addition, such factors as the aging population combined with the diminishing number of children and hollowing out of local industrial structure have been accelerating the seriousness of these problems.
By taken these factors into account, we have made our research based upon the viewpoint in which the concept of "well-being" could be most effective to resolve these serious issues.
Consequently we have found several key issues and devices to regenerate the once vigor communities. Those are:
1.The collaboration of the concepts of universal design and social capitals is critical.
2.The introduction of "Kur Staat" concept in Germany that actively uses natural environment and hills and mountains in and around the hot springs could be useful
3.The introduction of "eco-museum" concept, which embraces all aspects of territory such as history culture, arts and residents' daily lives, in addition to the traditional museums could be critical.
4.To grasp the traditional welfare concept more openly and widely the introduction of new type of welfare, "well-being" which enlaces environment, health, arts and culture and that embraces mental health issues could be critical.
5.Under the new welfare concept of well-being, it is important that the communities need to generate their own "community business" to regenerate them.
In conclusion, we have elucidated that it is extremely useful to bring in the aspects of welfare, health and environment to resolve the problems facing by the communities and eventually regenerate the communities as vigor as before.