4. Community Participation and Empowerment
Kumamoto City has promoted the establishment of self-governing associations, based on school districts,
comprising both residents associations and other organizations. City staff members can attend meetings held
by self-governing associations at community planning centers, enabling them to provide administrative
information to the community while receiving input as to how the community is functioning.
The city is also working to improve financial support to better promote collaborative activities between
residents and the administration. With revenue derived from donations from individuals and businesses, the
newly established Kumamoto City Citizens Public Interest Support Fund (Kumamoto Waku-Waku Fund)
subsidizes a variety of activities by different groups, whilst encouraging further community involvement.