COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN AND OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEES IN TOKYO METROPOLITAN CITIES

Recently, an increasing number of urban areas have established neighborhood committee organizations. We investigated organizations established in the 1970s and those formed from the 2000s in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Comparisons reveal that their performance and appraisal by local governments differ despite their almost identical organizational structure. If local governments expect them to serve as necessary planning units for urban management, then it is important that they have legal and political stability to local assemblies and community organizations. Local governments should have them participate in policy-making processes to enhance members' motivation. Furthermore, facilitative leadership encouraging social entrepreneurship is necessary to vitalize these committees.