Hokkaido Sociological Association’s Message to the World

Hokkaido Sociological Association

Japan's Third World Natural Heritage Site, Shiretoko in Northeastern Hokkaido
1. Message to the World
The powerful tsunami caused by the massive earthquake off the Pacific Ocean of theTohoku Region that occurred on March 11, 2011 surged towards coastal regions, swallowing
the lives of nearly 20,000 people from across all the towns that it struck. Following this, thepeople of Hamadori, Fukushima Prefecture were forced to evacuate for an extended period oftime due to the impact from the accident at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Many people tried to figure out what they could do for the afflicted region, and activities
were soundly carried out both by people who went to the scene of the disaster as well as theresidents and NGOs that worked to receive residents from Fukushima Prefecture in Hokkaido
and accommodate them there. Those who evacuated to Hokkaido created the Michinoku Kai
self-help organization, which initiated activities such as exchanging information, exchanges,
providing aid supplies, and employment placement through the intermediation of both thegovernment and evacuees as well as evacuees and local residents.
Even among sociologists there were researchers who formed permanent support
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organizations consisting of emergency support volunteers and studied the actual living
conditions of the disaster victims through their practices out of a desire to aid with rebuilding
the communities in the stricken regions. The Hokkaido Sociological Association also contains
sociologists who are engaged in support and investigative activities in a variety of ways. As
such, this paper will attempt to consider social challenges that are shared between Hokkaido
and the Tohoku Region.
Speech and conduct (civilian assemblies, demonstrations in the streets) to the effect that
we are now in an epochal period for forming a denuclearized, sustainable society are taking
place in urban areas throughout Japan, as if 3.11 constituted a second postwar period. Yet
those who live in rural areas—particularly in Hokkaido where the industrial foundations havebeen weakening as a result of the economic globalization that has continued since the 1980s,and where expenditures continue to shrink as a result of low birthrates, the aging of thepopulation, and depopulation—cannot help but feel as if debates over changing lifestyles andcommunities are somewhat extravagant. Frankly speaking, just being born, getting an
education, and securing employment in the hinterland in Hokkaido are by no means easytasks (except for in Sapporo which is the prefectural capital). What is more, elderly people
who are not fortunate enough to have access to medical institutions cannot grow old withpeace of mind, and even in Sapporo the number of middle and elderly people in their 40s and
50s who are being downsized is on the rise. As things stand now we can no longer count on
the jobs and social security that had been enjoyed by Japan in the 1980s, and so we have noother option but to change our very lifestyle itself.
So then, what sorts of problems should a sociological association in such a society be90

interested in and what sorts of research challenges should it tackle? Conducting research on
domains such as the family, local communities, and labor is not what is important here.
Rather, the feeling is that it is important to have an awareness of public problems so that nomatter what the subject is its research results can be utilized in some way in order to continue
improving Hokkaido society.
If we were to trace back the history of the Hokkaido Sociological Association and thefootprints left behind by the pioneers who were actively involved in it, we would see thatsince the outset sociological associations in Hokkaido have done research and studies
underpinned by an interest in public problems. The association has been closely aligned withthe lives of the people of Hokkaido, and it is from out of this that it has obtained its
sociological conceptual abilities. When it comes to this specific subject, the history andcurrent status of the Hokkaido Sociological Association will be explained in detail below. At
any rate, for our message to the world we would like to take this opportunity to discuss andintroduce the social influence and significance of the global impact had by Hokkaido in Japan,
despite the fact that it is a rural society, as well as the advice from members of the Hokkaido
Sociological Association on forming societies that enable its people to live in this region.
SAKURAI Yoshihide(President of the Hokkaido Sociological Association during 2011 – 2013)
2. About the Hokkaido Sociological Association
Our association was established in around 1951, and thus it has a history that is alreadynearly 60 years old. It has 144 members (as of June 9, 2012), and remains active as acooperative organization for research and education by those involved in sociology whoeither reside in Hokkaido or who have resided there at some point.
Its board of directors consists of a president and vice president (one each), directors(seven), and auditors (two), all of which are selected through an election by the members(with terms lasting for two years; reelection for two terms in a row not permitted). As far as
standing committees go, the association has an Editorial Board Committee (five people) and a
Research Activities Committee (five or more people).
Research report sessions are held once a year in June at a university in Hokkaido, wheresymposia, general reports (member presentations), and other events are carried out.
As for the association’s periodic publications:(1) Contemporary Sociological Studies, the journal: This is a journal that is generally
issued once a year in June. It consists of special feature papers, contributed papers (whichundergo a peer-review), book reviews, and so forth. For the papers submitted by members,offers are received by August 31 of each year, and the deadline to submit the papers is onOctober 31.
(2) Newsletter: Generally issued four times a year, in March, May, July, and November.
Research subsidies: The association offers research assistance of 50,000 yen per case to91

young rsearchers whoaremembersoftheMembers’ major fields of speciality

No. of peopleThe family

18

Rural villages / local communities

14

Social welfare / social security / medical care11

are not in a position

Education

10

where they can apply

Culture / religion / ethics

10forSocial class / social hierarchy / social mobility

8

Scientific Research on

Management / industry / labor

7their own) that apply for

General theory

5it.

Cities5

Annual fees: 6,000

Social change theory4

yen in general, or 4,000

Gender / generation

4

yen for students.

Comparative community / area studies

4Ethnicity issues / nationalism

4Communication / information / symbols

3

Social movements / aggregate behavior

3

association(graduatestudents and graduate
school graduates who

3.

Grants-in-Aid

Current(FocusandforStatus
MajorInterests)
The commonality

Social philosophy / social thought / sociologicalhistory

3

Politics / international relations

3Life structures

3

Social psychology / social consciousness

2

Social pathology / social problems

2

expertise and interests

Population

2of the researchers areThe environment

1quite diverse (Table). In

Sociological research methodologies / survey

addition, the following

methods / measurement methods

1

sorts of theme sessions

Social history / folklore / life history

1and symposia have beenSocial group / organization theory

1held (over the past 15

Leisure / sports

1years).

Total

130

shared by the membersof the association is thatthey take Hokkaido as
their field of research,buttheareasof[Changes in the Meeting Symposia]○1997
45th meeting (Tokyo University of Science, Oshamanbe Campus)
Electronic Media and Humanity’s Lowbrow Aspects○1998
46th meeting (Hokkaido Information University)
Hokkaido 50 Years after WWII92

○199947th meeting (Otaru University of Commerce)
Living as Sociologists○2000
48th meeting (Hokkaido University of Education – Iwamizawa Campus)
Higher Education and Regional Societies: New Connections between Resident Activities
and Educational Institutions○2001
49th meeting (Sapporo International University)
The Present State of Rural Villages in Hokkaido and Regional Revival
Horizons Opened up by Gender Theory○2002
50th meeting (Hokkaido University)
Supporting the Self-reliance of the Elderly○2003
51st meeting (Hokusei Gakuen University)
On Teaching Sociology○2004
52nd meeting (Hokkaido Asai Gakuen University)
Fluctuations in the Employment Systems and the Educationally Oriented Society○2005
53rd meeting (Hokkaido University of Education – Sapporo)
Urban Development in the Compact City of Sapporo○2006
54th meeting (Hokkai Gakuen University)
Considering the Sociology of Food Based on Slow Food
○2007
55th meeting (Hokkaido Musashi Women's Junior College)
Intimate Spheres and Violence: Finding Clues within a Set of Problems concerning
Domestic Violence and Men’s Sexual Desires○2008
56th meeting (Asahikawa Medical College)
Is Medical Care Going Too Far?: Health, Medical Care, and Contemporary Society○2009
57th meeting (Sapporo Gakuin University)
Regional Restoration and Sociology○2010
58th meeting (Hokkaido University of Education – Hakodate)
Local Media and Its Relationship to the Community93

○201159th meeting (Tenshi College)
The End Results of Societies that Increasingly Leave Illness to Chance: Towards
Networking for New Connections○2012
60th meeting (Kokugakuin University Hokkaido Junior College)
Risks and Tasks of an Elderly Society and Care Relationships for a Super Aging Society:
Mounting Risks and Social Countermeasures
4. Links
・Science Council of Japan・The Japan Sociological Society
・Sociological Society of West Japan・Japan Consortium for Sociological Societies
・Contemporary Sociological Studies, the journal J-Stage
・Tourism in Hokkaido (Link to Hokkaido Tourism Organization)[Contact Address]
Department of Administrative Affairs:
Inside the Hokkaido NPO Support Center
6th floor of the Sapporo 63 Building
3-3-1 Kita 6 Johigashi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, 060-0906
TEL: +81-(0)11-299-6940

FAX: +81-(0)11-299-6941

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E-mail: socio@npo-hokkaido.org