Kaga Matsugaoka housing complex
Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture
About Kaga Matsugaoka Housing Complex
The Kaga Matsugaoka housing complex was established in 1976 as a residential complex with 1,460 lots of single-family dwellings. It provided a chance to live surrounded by beautiful and elegant traditional crafts, a hot spring that attracted famous visitors, and magnificent natural scenery. People who yearned for such a way of life came to make their home in the neighborhood.
Despite being located only about 10 minutes’ walk from Kagaonsen Station, aging demographics and a low birthrate have been a factor in the resident population falling, from around 3,600 people in 2000 to 3,400 in 2022.
What challenges does the neighborhood face if it is to have a brighter future, and what needs to be done going forward? Opinions on these questions are exchanged at open conferences held with members of the neighborhood association that administers the area. With involvement by diverse partners, extending beyond the usual local government and corporate participants, action is now starting to be taken on the many ideas that come out of these meetings.
About Kaga Matsugaoka housing complex
- Sales start: 1976
- Site area: 610,000m2(about 13 times the size of Tokyo Dome)
- Number of lots for sale: 1,460
- Percentage of elderly: 29.1%* (approx.)
- Population: 3,258*
*From 2020 census
*The total population includes persons of unknown age, but the percentage of elderly is calculated by excluding persons of unknown age from the total population.
Along with the issue of vacant homes, one shared by neighborhoods throughout Japan as the population ages, a variety of concerns have arisen that relate to the local infrastructure needed for a comfortable life. These include the effort needed to tidy up the large quantities of leaves that fall from the trees lining neighborhood streets, the lack of security lighting, and the dense vegetation around the flood-control pond. The neighborhood is taking its first steps toward revitalization with a common goal of achieving “circulation and continuity” whereby they make use of the housing complex’s resources and in turn pass them on to become assets for their children.
Open Conference of Town Planning
The conference was held at the Matsugaoka Community Hall.
About 110 people attended, including members of the neighborhood association and Daiwa House employees.
The conference attracts people of all ages, from junior high school students through to parents with young families and the elderly, each contributing ideas about the town’s future from their own perspective.
A plan is underway that has been jointly developed with local residents to create a “walkable neighborhood,” using walking as a starting point for addressing a variety of concerns such as “Although I think I know my neighbors, it feels like there are a lot of people I don’t know.” and “Getting around by car is difficult now that I have had to hand back my driving license.” By making use of empty lots for parks and other open spaces and installing rest stops for pedestrians, this work is creating a sustainable neighborhood where everyone can mingle with everyone else.
A Project for Taking Matsugaoka into the Future, which is made up of residents of many different ages was launched in April 2023. Daiwa House Industry is looking at purchasing empty lots and vacant homes at the housing complex for uses such as providing places where residents can meet. The goal is to work with the local people to create a community where existing residents can remain and new residents be enticed to move in.
Lantern Night
In October 2023, we held the Third Handmade Lantern Night jointly with the town's lantern night committee. This is a new community event that we began planning in 2021 together with the residents. On the day of the event, 131 people participated and decorated the community hall with around 600 lanterns. Children also helped with lantern making and preparation, which provided an opportunity for everyone from children to the elderly to interact with each other. This event continues to be held on an ongoing basis at the initiative of the residents.
Matsugaoka Smile Marche
In November 2023, we held Matsugaoka Smile Marche with seven food trucks invited, aiming to encourage residents to go out and feel a sense of affinity toward Matsugaoka Base (a space located on our property where community events are held). The event was attended by about 210 residents, who commented that they felt comfortable joining in and had a lot of fun, and that they met their acquaintances for the first time in quite some time. Continuing to arrange such events, we will gather residents' opinions and work with them to create a place for community interaction.
Smartphone Study Session
We hold a smartphone study session once or twice a month on a regular basis since March 2024, with an aim to improve digital skills and eliminate the digital divide among the elderly, and to create opportunities for communication.
About six to eight people participate each time, who are becoming able to text faster and do an Internet search, thus getting proficient at using smartphones with each session.
It also serves as a place for community formation, and everyone enjoys participating in the session. Emphasizing these opportunities where residents can interact with each other, we will strive to create a community where they can continue residing for a long period.