The Local Democracy Institute (LDI) is an organization dedicated to putting “small-scale democracy” into practice through the efforts of residents in small municipalities.
We all live in a municipality, pay taxes, and receive public services. Residents are not entirely uninterested in local politics, policies, and administration. Are residents’ views reflected in government decisions? Is tax money being spent appropriately? It is impossible to remain indifferent to these issues.
What can residents do?
We would like to begin by undertaking the following activities:
- Ensuring that elections result in the selection of suitable representatives based on policy.
- Contributing to the creation of towns where residents’ wishes are reflected and where there is hope for the future.
- Encouraging residents to take an interest in politics as it relates to their daily lives.
Yuko Mibu, Director, Institute for Local Democracy
Organization Information
| Organization Name | Local Democracy Institute (LDI) |
| Office Location | 148-1 Yuge-Kamata, Kamijima-cho, Ochi-gun, Ehime, Japan |
| Date of Incorporation | July 11, 2024 |
| Representative | Yuko Mibu 090-4902-1397 ym[at]localdem.com |
| Activities | We will put small-scale participatory democracy into practice through the following activities: 1. Ensuring that elections result in the selection of suitable representatives based on policy. 2. Contributing to the creation of towns where residents’ wishes are reflected and where there is hope for the future. 3. Encouraging residents to take an interest in politics as it relates to their daily lives. |
| Website | https://localdem.com |
Activity History
- Movie Screening ▶ September 22, 2024: Screening of “The Woman Who Became Mayor on [Date]” @ Iwagi, Yuge
- Planned Public Debate for Mayoral Candidates (▶ Cancelled due to failure to obtain consent from all three candidates)
- Survey of Prospective Candidates for Kamijima Town Mayor and Town Council ▶ Conducted September–October 2024
- Resident Survey: “Policies You Want the Town to Address” ▶ Conducted September–October 2024
- Town Government Monitoring ▶ Observing regular sessions and council meetings, identifying issues
- Research and Analysis: In-depth investigation and analysis of town government-related themes, organizing key points, and providing commentary▶ February 2025: First Research Report Session held: “Key Challenges and Key Points of the Parliamentary Harassment Convention”
- Back-office support for resident advocacy▶ March 2025–: School reorganization issue: Support for study sessions, information gathering/dissemination, newsletter publication, and other administrative support
- Information Provision: Disseminating information on resident political participation, exchanging opinions with relevant parties, and providing information to council members.
About the Representative
I first visited Yuge Island in 2009, and after commuting back and forth to Kobe for about four years, I moved to Kamijima Town in 2013. I am currently a practicing patent attorney. After five years of experience as a law instructor at Yuge Merchant Marine College, I began my pro bono work. As I promoted the practice of local self-government and democracy by ordinary residents in a small municipality, I made friends and began to truly enjoy the work.
Private website https://yugeshima.com https://m-ip.info