Bridge the Gap Between Local Governments and Communities: Key Factors in Generating Community Involvement in the Historic Preservation District in Japan1

Abstract

Since 1795, 106 districts in Japan have been selected as Important Historic Preservation Districts (Juuyo dentouteki kenzoubutsugun hozon chiku [Juudenken]). The system for protection of cultural properties enables the local government to name a “Preservation District” and allows for the development of a preservation plan based on local ordinances. Moreover, the well-organized, bottom-up networks, which are groups for community development activities on the basis of local participation, play an important role in raising awareness and conducting several preservation projects in their own towns. This study mainly focused on cultural resources management in the local community. The system, which possibly bridged the gap between the local authorities and the community, was revealed. Fifty non-profit groups and active citizens, who were engaged in an advanced stage of community participation in Juudenken, were selected to be interviewed. The results then were analyzed using STAT program. The significant associations were shown by mapping the associations related to the public process of community involvement. Each variable had its own significant meaning and contributed credible indirect association to community involvement. The network mapping indicated that balancing the local economy and technical conservation was important in generating community involvement, which provided a model on how local authorities and communities could articulate and maintain their own cultural resources.