A STUDY ON THE PRINCIPLE OF “MACHI NO IBASHO”

In recent years, non-institutional places known as “Machi no Ibasho” have emerged across Japan. This paper examines the “Ibasho House” in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where the author conducted fieldwork, by analyzing how people perceived its guiding principle. The aim of this study is to explore the significance of principle in the operations of “Machi no Ibasho.” Through analysis of the authorʼ s fieldnotes, three meanings of principle in “Machi no Ibasho” were identified: as a catalyst for involvement in operations, as influencing operations by resolving the “gap” between principle and operations, and as a clue for reflecting on operations.