In order to identify problems in rural areas, this study analyzed reports on community support activities in Hyogo Prefecture by using text mining methods.
We collected 320 reports on community support activities conducted between 2007 and 2011 in the areas of Tanba, Tajima, and Awaji. After classifying the reports according to their sphere of activity (e.g., a village, several villages, a town), we used text mining methods to identify local problems specific to each level.
The main findings were as follows:
(1) All three levels shared problems related to children, the elderly, exchanges among local residents, and tourism.
(2) At the village level, the management of living environments and farming were the problems.
(3) The problem unique to the several-village level was with regard to the elementary schools.
(4) At the town level, food and welfare were the local problems.