About
Thinking about local autonomy and processes to improve everyday life in communities.
Introduction
Established in October 2011.
Located within the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, we approach community development from a genuinely interdisciplinary perspective.
Our laboratory explores how everyday life in communities can be improved and how diverse actors can work together to sustain vibrant local places.
Process Design for Self-directed Community Development
At the heart of our work is the capacity of citizens to shape their own communities. As populations decline across Japan, we examine how local governance can be guided by citizens—not through isolated independence, but through self-directed collaboration among actors inside and outside the community. We also focus on how the path toward a goal can itself be designed, paying close attention to flexible forms of partnership.
Keywords
Regional DNA
Identifying the “regional DNA” that has shaped local culture and landscapes, and pursuing a future grounded in that context.
Process Design
Communities are always changing; planning should therefore be dynamic and include the process itself.
Self-directed Community Development
Not isolated independence, but self-direction through collaboration with diverse actors.
Our Approach
Bird’s-eye / Ground-level Views
A perspective rooted in the realities of place, combined with a view of the wider whole.
Work Hard & Play Hard
Work seriously, enjoy life fully.
Prospective Graduate Students
Students interested in the master’s or doctoral program are welcome to contact Professor Taguchi directly.
Access
From Tokushima Awaodori Airport
Take the airport bus to Tokushima Station
then continue to the university by local bus or on foot.
From Tokushima Station
About 10 minutes by local bus
to Tokushima Daigaku-mae (Suketo-bashi).
Buses bound for Shimada-Ishibashi also stop near the university.
Address
1-1 Minamijosanjima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan
Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences · Regional Planning Laboratory
Tel: 088-656-2235