LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SAFETY: CASE OF JAPAN’S TONARI-GUMI AND KOBAN

Authors

  • Urazbaev Abatbay Askerbaevich Author

Keywords:

Keywords: tonari-gumi, Koban, public safety, decentralized governance, civic participation, Japan, crime reduction, aging demographic, digitization, safety social capital.

Abstract

Abstract:Japan’s public safety model, integrating tonari-gumi volunteer patrols 
and  Koban  police  stations,  exemplifies  decentralized  governance,  blending  civic 
participation with institutional oversight. This study analyzes their evolution from 2010 
to 2023, assessing legal, economic, and social efficacy amid urbanization (91% urban 
population),  an  aging  demographic  (38.4%  over  65),  and  rising  cybercrime  (27% 
increase, 2020 – 2023) [1, 2]. Drawing on National Police Agency data, the research 
quantifies a 30.2% crime drop (1,897 to 1,324 cases per 100,000), with petty crime 
falling 82.3% rural and 58.6% urban, though serious crime declined only 23.1% [3]. 
Historical roots trace to Edo’s gonin-gumi, while post-1947 "Local Autonomy Law" 
scaled  Koban  to  6,298  and  tonari-gumi  to  46,127  by  2023  [4,  5].  Case  studies 
(Yamagata,  Fukuoka,  Nagano)  and  55-act  legal  analysis  reveal  adaptability  –  e.g., 
Fukuoka’s "SafeLink" cut response times from 9.7 to 7.9 minutes – yet privacy lawsuits 
(52 in 2023) and elderly reliance (42.8% Nagano volunteers over 65) pose challenges 
[6, 7]. The study highlights "safety social capital" (85.2% rural trust) and explores 
export potential to regions like Central Asia [8, 9]. 

References

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Published

2025-04-09

How to Cite

Urazbaev Abatbay Askerbaevich. (2025). LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SAFETY: CASE OF JAPAN’S TONARI-GUMI AND KOBAN . Ta’lim Innovatsiyasi Va Integratsiyasi, 43(1), 109-118. https://scientific-jl.com/tal/article/view/8250