This year, it’s our turn to become the leader of our tonarigumi*. Our unit consists of 18 households, all belonging to a larger neighborhood association. So, within our 18-household neighborhood group, we came up with a plan to leave that larger association.
Why is that?
Because being part of the neighborhood association brings us almost no benefits. As a member, you’re responsible for leading your small unit, and over time, you’ll be expected to take on larger leadership roles for the entire association. As the members are getting older, there are fewer people who can take on these roles. On top of serving as officers, we also have to pay an annual membership fee. What’s more, the association has collected nearly 20 million yen in total. What on earth is it being used for?
Sure, if you leave the association, you stop receiving the printed city newsletter at your doorstep. But you can just read it on your smartphone nowadays.
When we pleaded with the head of the association, saying, “We really need a traffic mirror here!” they completely ignored us and didn’t take any action. And yet, submitting those requests to city hall is supposed to be their responsibility!
The same person has been serving as the head for the past few years, and apparently, they seem to enjoy doing it, so the position does not change easily.
So, our tonarigumi discussed it and decided to leave the neighborhood association. First, we decided to collect signatures from all members of the unit and hand them to the head.
However, since leaving the association as an entire unit was completely unprecedented, the head initially told us, “I won’t approve it!” In the past, there had been people who left individually. Recently, it also seems common for newly moved-in households not to join the association at all.
To make matters worse, the head said, “I’ll turn off the streetlights and make it pitch-dark, just like in the Showa era!” “Pitch-dark like the Showa era… What, are you talking about wartime Showa? I don’t even know what that’s like.” – That was the full-power comeback I made in my head.
The electricity bills for the streetlights are paid by the neighborhood association. Actually, that money comes out of the association fees we paid. He threatened to call the power company to cut the lines just because we were leaving.
“Leave the association, we’ll cut your streetlights.” That is pure, petty bullying.
Despite the threats, we obviously had no intention of starting a fight. But that did not mean we were going to stay silent and accept it either. We knew that joining the neighborhood association was not mandatory and that we were free to leave, so we did not back down easily.
The head, who had been stubborn at first, finally accepted it reluctantly. Then they muttered one thing: “I just didn’t want people leaving while I was serving as head.”
“What kind of reason is that? So if someone else were the head, it would be fine? In the end, is this all about your pride?”
Mr. Head of the Association, please do not read this blog. Haha.
By the way, “tsukkomi” is not something limited to Kansai, but it is deeply connected to Kansai comedy culture. Reacting humorously to what someone says with something like, “That makes no sense!” is called tsukkomi. This time, though, I only did it in my head. Haha.
And just like that, our 18 households successfully broke free from the association. While Japan’s neighborhood associations and local community groups do play an important role in mutual support within the area, I truly feel they have reached a turning point where they must adapt to modern times.
Even though we left the larger association, the 18 of us remain a tight-knit, face-to-face neighborhood group. We want to cherish our relationships and continue living together harmoniously on our own terms.
By the way, the streetlights are still shining properly, as if nothing ever happened.
What are neighborhood associations or local communities like in your area?

*tonarigumi: a small neighborhood group made up of nearby households

(Translated by Thanh Van)