Factors Affecting Residents’ Satisfaction with Community Development Activities in Former Elementary School Districts

This study quantitatively examines residents’ evaluations of the activities of a broad-based autonomous community development association established in an old elementary school district. Using data obtained from a questionnaire survey on the community residents in District T, the following findings were obtained. First, from residents’ perceptions, the following factors affecting the satisfaction were extracted: “basic strength of community development,” “basic capability of community,” “agricultural assets (economic base and food culture),” “historical and cultural assets,” “the driving force of the community,” and “rural natural assets.” Second, three residents’ groups were identified through cluster analysis. Each cluster was based on the residents’ satisfaction level and residents’ attributes such as gender, age, and whether they belong to the oaza or shuraku. Third, six factors were identified as positively affecting residents’ satisfaction with life, the neighborhood association, and the community development association. The number of households living together, the presence or absence of out-of-prefecture residents, and life in an area away from the center of the district were found to affect residents’ satisfaction levels. Overall, although the activities of the community development association positively contributed to residents’ satisfaction, differences were seen among clusters and inner areas within the district. These findings indicate that it is critical to consider differences in perception generated by the differences among rural communities or household attributes when planning broad-based community development strategies.