Tokyo, Oct. 1 (Jiji Press)–Regional management organizations, which empower residents to take the lead in tackling local challenges, are becoming increasingly common across Japan. There were 8,587 such organizations nationwide in fiscal 2025, up 394 from the previous year. RMOs are expected to play a key role in community development at a time when a falling birthrate and a graying population are leaving fewer people to sustain local activities. Cross-Sector Efforts In rural areas, population decline and the resulting contraction of local economies have made it increasingly difficult to maintain essential services such as shops and gas stations. As community ties weaken, the outflow of young people to urban areas is further thinning the ranks of people who keep these communities going. The internal affairs ministry is promoting and supporting RMOs, noting that their cross-sector approach to such challenges can also help revitalize communities. RMOs are mainly resident-led bodies that typically operate within elementary school districts. Their activities vary with local needs, ranging from checking on elderly residents to helping them with their shopping. The number of RMOs has grown roughly 2.8-fold since fiscal 2016, when the ministry launched its survey. In fiscal 2025, 903 municipalities had at least one RMO. The ministry, which provides financial assistance to municipalities working to set up RMOs, is calling for wider use of the program. Support on the Ground Unnan, in the western Japan prefecture of Shimane, was created by the merger of six municipalities in 2004. Since then, the city government has worked to build an environment in which residents can pursue community development tailored to local needs. The city now has 30 RMOs, whose service areas together cover its entire territory. In the Hata district, the local RMO runs a supermarket in a former elementary school building. “It has become a place residents can rely on,” a city official said. The organization also checks on elderly residents when delivering goods to their homes and operates a community bus to keep people mobile. The ministry is also urging prefectural governments to step up their support for RMOs. In Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, the prefectural government assigns specialists to advise municipalities, among other measures, and has launched new initiatives aimed at younger people, such as highlighting the appeal of community activities on social media, officials said. Intermediary Support Its annual survey of RMOs has convinced the ministry of the importance of outside support, as local issues become more complex and diverse and increasingly call for activities designed for each community. In recent years, the ministry has focused on “intermediary support providers” that serve as liaisons between local governments and RMOs. It defines the providers as “third parties that help the establishment and activities of RMOs,” envisioning nonprofit organizations and other entities engaged in community development. “When disagreements arise among residents, or between residents and local governments, an outside perspective can help activities proceed smoothly,” a ministry official said. Drawing on surveys of local governments and other sources, the ministry has compiled and published a list of 95 such organizations, giving their contact details, main areas of operation and the fields in which they have extensive experience. The ministry hopes the list will be used by those looking to work with intermediary organizations on setting up RMOs, reviewing their activities and developing human resources, officials said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
