I am writing this letter to introduce myself. I came to London to spend a sabbatical year and to research the history of British India at the British Library. In Japan I am a lecturer at Konan University at Kobe, teaching social anthropology, comparative cultures, Asian studies etc.

I arrived in London last September. For the first few months I was affected by cultural shock and by the events of September 11th. I found people in London to be reserved and it seemed difficult for me to participate in the community. At that time my friend, G introduced me to GNC and A and P gave me a place as a volunteer. I found out and learnt many things from the people and the activities at GNC. In these 8 months I became particularly interested in the organization of the centre as a registered charitable organization with an associated non profit making company, receiving local government support, which plays a flexible and creative role in putting local inhabitants in touch with one another and providing a venue and opportunity for various kinds of activities. I am returning to Japan in 2 months’ time, however, I would very much like to come back periodically, if you don’t mind I would like to research into the GNC.

I would like to find out the basic ideas behind the centre. There are three things, which interest me. The first is the history of GNC, since the beginning and how the organization and management have changed. The second is the function of the centre within the local community; how GNC develops a network among inhabitants by bringing people together and also by circulating goods. The third is how the role of a Good Neighbourhood Project volunteer fits in between the private and public social and health service workers and individual’s family and personal friends.

In Japan, after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, non profit organizations became involved when a number of people, especially from the younger generation came to the disaster areas as volunteers to aid and support the population. After this, in 1998 a NPO Act was passed to promote voluntary activities. In Japan, as in Britain, the relationship between the individuals, families, the local community and the State are changing dramatically. We don’t have the same family and local community system as we had a few decades ago.

I would like to tell my students about GNC. I know they are interested in the voluntary activities and the London communities beyond football and Beckham. I would like to follow the future of GNC, and, if I have the chance, I would like to write report to Japanese readers. I have had published two books, one about the modern midwife and the changes in childbirth in Japan, of which I am making some copies available. The other is about Bangladesh, where I stayed for two and half years for my anthropological field work, when I was younger.

I hope you will allow me to keep in touch with GNC.