Insights on Shinci Town's Sustainable Trajectory Through Community Input,

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Shinchi, small town located in Fukushima Prefecture, adopted a reconstruction approach that played a notable role in the full restoration of its original population. This approach placed emphasis on restoring community bonds and generally increasing the overall quality of life of its residents through the improvement of information dissemination and the local transportation system. However, earlier studies that evaluated the extent to which Shinchi’s residents are satisfied with these projects indicated that there are further improvements that need to be made with respect to the sustainable development of the town. In light of the issues identified, this study conducted a series of interview sessions, informal discussions and one workshop to gain insight on the local residents’ perspective on key development aspects that could enhance Shinchi’s attractiveness as a place of long-term residence. Furthermore, empirical field research was conducted to assess the feasibility of utilizing electric-assist bicycles as an alternative form of transportation within the boundaries of Shinchi Town. The findings highlighted the importance of community events such outdoor activities on the cultural education * Corresponding Author Tel.: +81 070-4233-2933 ; E-mail: nikolaos.iliopoulos@s.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp of younger citizens and showed that electric bicycles can indeed increase the reliability of the transportation system in Shinchi.