How libraries in Japan are being reimagined as pillars of community life

Libraries across Japan are undergoing a quiet yet significant transformation. No longer viewed solely as repositories of books, they are increasingly being repositioned as part of infrastructure that strengthens social cohesion, supports healthy ageing and enhances societal resilience.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s 2023 National Health and Nutrition Survey, only 41.5% of respondents feel that residents in their community help one another, with just 31.6% perceiving their local ties as strong. Both figures show declines from 2015 and 2019 levels.

At the same time, people aged 65 and older now account for 29.4% of the population, making Japan one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies. While extending healthy life expectancy is a national priority, strengthening social connections has emerged as a critical lever. Research indicates that individuals who participate in community activities are approximately 18% less likely to require long-term care and have a 22% higher likelihood of longevity compared to those who do not. Social participation, therefore, is increasingly understood as a social asset and as a key determinant of health and well-being.

Emerging evidence also highlights the potential role of libraries in this equation. A large-scale longitudinal study conducted by Kyoto University and Keio University followed more than 70,000 adults aged 65 and older over seven years. The findings suggest that communities with richer library resources experience lower risks of functional disability. In areas with ten additional books per capita, the risk of functional impairment was approximately 34% lower. Furthermore, each additional library within a community was associated with a 48% lower risk of functional disability.

Although causality cannot be definitively established, the implications are notable. Libraries provide access to information, host events and create gathering spaces that encourage people to leave their homes and engage cognitively and physically. In ageing societies, such functions may carry broader public health and social resilience benefits. Against this backdrop, libraries across Japan are being reimagined as platforms for community regeneration.

In Fujikawa Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, the first municipal library opened in July 2023 within a newly constructed government complex, following strong demand from residents. The facility now attracts an average of 110 visitors per day and serves as a focal point for community interaction. Regular events held in the shared entrance space further encourage the site to become a civic hub, illustrating how integrated public facilities can enhance service delivery and social engagement.

Elsewhere, libraries are strategically integrating health and social services. In Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, the community library Daikai Bunko was established in 2020 by physician Dr. Yoichi Morimoto as a space where books function as an entry point to broader social support. The library incorporates consultations with medical professionals and applies the concept of 'social prescribing,' connecting individuals to community groups and local cafés. Approximately 19,000 people have visited to date and more than 1,000 have used its consultation services. Notably, some former users now contribute to the library’s operations, demonstrating how inclusive spaces can cultivate new forms of civic participation.

In parallel, Osaka University’s Social Solutions Initiative collaborates with public libraries to host health consultation sessions led by graduate students, uniting academic institutions with community-based infrastructure.

Participatory governance models are also gaining traction. The 'One-Box Bookshelf Owner' system by Minna no Toshokan (Everyone’s Library), adopted in more than 50 locations nationwide, including Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, allows individuals to curate small personal bookshelves within shared library spaces. Through reader messages and curated selections, these micro-libraries foster dialogue, agency and new social connections.

Public-private collaboration is further enriching library services. Katariba, a non-profit organization focused on creating safe spaces for children and youth, began receiving support from Suntory Holdings in 2024 to expand youth centres and train youth workers. This allowed them to launch a pilot initiative in partnership with TRC, a library management company, in a public library in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward. The initiative is testing the integration of youth centre functions within a library setting with the aim of developing a scalable model for broader national applicability.

In Okinawa Prefecture, Culture Convenience Club Co. Ltd. contributed to the redesign and operational digitalization of the Yomitan Village Library. The spatial concept emphasizes vibrancy, focus, an invitation to learning and children, while digital integration via mobile applications improves service efficiency. The library also convenes more than 150 annual events in collaboration with local residents, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and the Yomitan Village History Editorial Office, reinforcing its role as a multi-stakeholder platform for regional social interaction.

As communities seek new forms of social connection amid demographic change and shifting social dynamics, libraries are emerging as more than book-lending institutions in Japan. They are evolving into foundational civic infrastructure capable of generating social capital and strengthening community cohesion.

Efforts to position libraries as platforms for revitalizing local engagement are increasingly viewed as scalable and practical ways to advance inclusion and resilience. In this sense, libraries are not only cultural assets, but strategic enablers for building more connected, healthy and future-ready societies.