Urban-Rural Exchange for Rice Farming Areas Development: A Case Study of Iketani and Iriyama Villages, Japan

Iketani Iriyama is the name of a non-profit organization focusing on revitalizing rural village areas named after two villages in Japan. Potentially, these villages have rice farming culture due to the planting of a special rice called Yamashimizu with a unique natural irrigation method based around melting snow. Apart from the potential that these villages possess, they have a shrinking population. Therefore, the revitalization program was carried out by Iketani Iriyama through an urban-rural exchange approach. This research aims to understand the development pattern through direct interviews, focusing on background analysis, event design process, analysis of sustainability, and evaluation. According to this research, there are two categories of activities designed, which use an urban-rural collaboration approach that considers local potential, both cultural and natural. Internal activities aim to preserve agricultural areas through an ownership system approach and workshop activities related to local culture and facilitating immigrants through housing development. External activities include lectures, seminars, and discussions related to the success stories achieved. In carrying out these activities, there are six supporting aspects support the sustainability of the program, including the economic aspect, immigrants and volunteers, the character of the local community, agricultural potential, ongoing collaboration, and the role of social media.