March 31, 2025
Keio University
Sophia University
A research team composed of researchers from the Keio University Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care and Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, the Sophia University Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Juntendo University Faculty of Health Care and Nursing has created a handbook for building "ibasho"—safe and welcoming places where anyone can feel at ease—in the community. The research team visited 15 different types of "ibasho" in Tokyo and conducted hearing surveys with their operators about their motivations and aspirations for opening the spaces, the circumstances at the time of establishment, their current operational status, creative approaches to their activities, and the values they hold dear. Based on the results, the handbook organizes the steps for creating an "ibasho" into four categories: "Gathering Companions," "Shaping the Ibasho," "Sustaining the Ibasho," and "Passing on the Ibasho," and summarizes the key points in an easy-to-understand manner.
This handbook is designed to be easy to use for those who want to create "ibasho" in their communities that can support local residents facing various challenges. It is expected to contribute to increasing the number of "ibasho" in society.
This activity was conducted as part of the "Joint Project between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Universities*2" for fiscal year 2024. The handbook is published on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's website and is available to everyone.
Please see below for the full press release.