Source: “Results of survey for the number of authorized constructors (Outline) — Current status of authorized contractors (as of March 2011)”

## Column Countermeasures for heavy snow through mutual assistance

In heavy snowfall areas where the population is declining and aging, it is an issue to secure manpower for snow removal services. Volunteer systems must be utilized to support snow removal work for senior households.

Niigata Prefecture is promoting the activities of the snow shoveling volunteer group “Sukoppu,” that assists with snow shoveling and other related work around the house of senior households. It aims to reduce the burden on senior households, expand interaction with urban cities, and strengthen relationships within the community.

Recruiting volunteer registrants widely from inside and outside the prefecture, the prefectural government is encouraging people to join snow shoveling work in each city, town and village within the prefecture. The activity features many participants from outside the prefecture, and emphasizes interaction with local residents such as the participation of local people as leaders or safety managers to collaborate with them, and holding of interaction parties during the activities.

To participate in the activities of “Sukoppu,” one must first register from the prefectural website, etc., and once the activity schedule is decided, the secretariat notifies members about the information via e-mail, etc., and registrants who want to participate in the activity make application (The number of registered members is 1,156 persons as of March 1, 2012, and 60% of members are from outside the prefecture. There was an increase of about 400 members from November 2011). Although the participants pay the transportation and accommodation costs, there are many participants from all over the country every time.

Houses for snow removal are chosen locally, and the local people instruct the participants on how to wear Kanjiki (snowshoes), how to hold shovels, and how to use the snow dumper, etc. With these instructions, even participants who are not used to snow removal work can work safely and can make friendships with local people.

In fiscal year 2011, snow removal volunteer activities by “Sukoppu” were held 10 times in total in respective areas inside the prefecture due to heavy snowfall. A total of 386 volunteers participated in snow removal work.

FY 2011 Activities by the “Sukoppu” snow removal volunteers

No. of times	Activity Date (Date of Year 2012)	Place of activity	No. of participants in total
①	Jan. 28-29	Hachioji/Shibanomata districts, Oguni-machi, Nagaoka-city,	39 persons
②	Feb. 4-5	Ohshirakawa/Yokone districts Uonuma-city	82 persons
③	Feb. 4	Kawanishi district Tokamachi-city	9 persons
④	Feb. 10	Inside Uonuma-city	6 persons
⑤	Feb. 11	Itoigawa-city	6 persons
⑥	Feb. 11-12	Housue district, Oguni-machi, Nagaoka-city	56 persons
⑦	Feb. 11-12	Ohshirakawa district, Uonuma-city	32 persons
⑧	Feb. 12	Nakanakayama district, Shibata-city	24 persons
⑨	Feb. 18-19	Housue district, Oguni-machi, Nagaoka-city	76 persons
⑩	Feb. 25-26	Okura district, Minamiuonuma-city	56 persons
Total	16 days in total	386 persons

In the case where 2 persons joined a two-day and one-night activity twice→ counted as 8 persons in total

Source: Developed by MLIT from materials of Niigata Prefecture

In the Kawanishi district of Tokamachi, participants collaborated with "Musetsutai," a local snow shoveling volunteer group. "Sukoppu" cleared snow from around the house (they do not remove snow from the roof).

Source: Niigata Prefecture