ABSTRACT
The chapter examines the institutionalized bureaucratic- and politician-solicited forms of participation. The mechanisms for not just informing but also soliciting opinions about issues are analyzed. Documents publicizing town and city planning meetings are examined to better understand organizer and attendee expectations. The handouts that are distributed to all town meeting attendees are also deconstructed, revealing the goals of the meetings and how citizens’ and officials’ respective roles are imagined. Further documents are assessed, including those produced on the municipal and city council website that inform citizens about issues being considered by the municipal government. Finally, one issue is extrapolated from the city council newsletter, “shigikaigin diary,” and expounded on to illustrate aspects of the municipal-level decision-making process. The chapter subsequently compares similar forms of participation and the effectiveness seen nationally in Japan to two cities outside of Japan with similar populations and industry demographics.
