Kenichi Ji, "Resistance City Planning"

"My least favorite word is 'community development'."

The author, who has been "playing" with his town since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, chronicles the revitalization of his community.

This is the story of a man who ran a private community bus service on the slopes of his town, organized a marathon that attracted runners from all over the country, and devised a popular tour that sold out in just 30 seconds.

Kenichi Utsumi is a man who loves and has mastered nothing but Nada Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Thirty years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, this is a rebellious tale of community development, where the author revitalized the region by "playing" with the town himself, from guerrilla activities to projects involving the local government. This book is full of tips for making everyday life more interesting, with moments that will make you laugh, a little teary-eyed, and gasp in admiration.

This book is a collection of 112 carefully selected stories, written by the author as a look back at the countless "town games" he has engaged in over the past 30 years. It's not about marketing or revitalization projects; it's about the various "games" he played simply to enjoy his own life in town. Sometimes these activities garnered extensive media attention, and other times they were regrettable endeavors known to no one. Yet, all of them ultimately lead to a form of "community development" that anyone, in any town, can surely emulate. (From the publisher's website)