If you spot a festival or sporting event taking place in your neighborhood, chances are it was organized by the local neighborhood association.

Most places in Japan have a neighborhood association — often known as "chonaikai" or "jichikai" — where residents join in and work together to make their community a better place while getting to know each other.

According to a 2007 Cabinet Office poll, 93 percent of the respondents said there was a neighborhood association in their community, and 94 percent of those who have an association said they were a member.