In the fight against COVID-19, neighborhood associations could be Japan's ace in the hole
For all their faults, Japan's neighborhood associations also help build community solidarity — a resource that will be sorely needed in the months to come.
Illinois expat takes lead in Osaka neighborhood
An American three-decade veteran of Japan has spent the past seven years heading a residents' association in a small community in Osaka Prefecture. Samuel Edward Teckenbrock, 58, was chosen to head the association in Koyodai, in the city of Hirakata in February 2009. He said he ...
Chores, charges and chin-wags: the chōnaikai ties that bind
Perhaps fearing that the entire council could fall apart, some neighborhood associations resort to drastic measures to keep members active and in line. The culture clash is not foreigner vs. Japanese, but traditional vs. modern.
