Neighborhood Associations and Local Governance in Japan draws on a strong body of empirical data derived from the first national survey of neighborhood associations carried out in 2007 and provides a multifaceted empirical portrait of Japan's neighborhood associations. It examines how local associational structures affect the quality of local governance, and thus the quality of life for Japan's citizens and residents, and illuminates the way in which these ambiguous associations can help us refine civil society theory and show how they contribute to governance.

Robert J. Pekkanen is Associate Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Washington, USA.

Yutaka Tsujinaka is Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan.

Hidehiro Yamamoto is Associate Professor at the University of Yamagata, Japan

Translated by Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan

1. Neighborhood associations in Japan's civil society 2. Profiles of neighborhood association organizations 3. Structural operations of neighborhood associations 4. Social capital and participation in neighborhood association activities 5. Mutual collaboration between neighborhood associations and other organizations 6. Neighborhood associations and social service activities 7. Cooperation and collaboration with local governments 8. Neighborhood associations and political participation 9. Conclusion: Local community networks and straddling civil society structures