Toyoshikidai Danchi 'ikigai' employment & rooftop farming (Kashiwa Project)
Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan · Operator: 柏市・東京大学高齢社会総合研究機構・UR都市機構（三者協定。生きがい就労はセカンドライフ支援組織が運営）
Overview
The 'Kashiwa Project', launched in 2009 by Kashiwa City, the University of Tokyo's Institute of Gerontology and UR at Toyoshikidai Danchi (over 40% elderly) in Chiba. Using rooftop farms, plant-cultivation units and nearby farmland in the rebuilt complex, it embeds agriculture as 'ikigai' employment for seniors, advancing alongside community-based integrated care.
Citizen participation
Elderly residents of the highly aging complex take part in 'ikigai' (purpose-of-life) employment, growing vegetables in rooftop farms and plant-cultivation units and farming nearby fallow land; an intermediary body develops the jobs, offering live-near-work roles in contact with greenery.
Operating model
The 'Kashiwa Model' under a tripartite agreement among Kashiwa City, the University of Tokyo and UR; built on community-based integrated care and creating purposeful elderly employment, run via job programs where the university acts as employer and through intermediary organizations.
Impact
Known nationwide as the 'Kashiwa Model' linking elderly employment and social participation with community-based care, it became a leading example of purpose-driven senior farming and work in danchi, referenced in policy as an advanced model for a long-life society.
Crops
- leafy vegetables
- seasonal vegetables
Scale
建替後の豊四季台団地の屋上スペースを活用した屋上農園や植物栽培ユニットを設置。高齢者の生きがい就労の場の一つ
Sources（3）
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
Related cases
ComCrop
SGSingapore, Singapore
Singapore's first commercial rooftop farm, established in 2011 atop an Orchard Road mall, growing vegetables and herbs while doubling as a community farm on weekends.
sfa.gov.sg+1
Yinian Rooftop Garden for Seniors
CNChongqing, China
Built in 2018 on a developer's residential complex in central Chongqing, this is one of the city's first rooftop community gardens designed for seniors. With accessible garden beds, it is a welfare and community space where elderly residents can take part in gardening.
landezine-award.com+1
Santropol Roulant Rooftop Garden (Montreal)
CAMontreal, Canada
A Montreal non-profit founded in 1995 to connect youth and seniors, linking a rooftop garden, composting and bicycle-based meal delivery. It is described as the only Meals-on-Wheels service in Canada that grows its own food.
santropolroulant.org+1
Seseragi Community Garden (Machi no Namagomi Ikashi-tai)
JPHino, Japan
A community garden in Hino City, Tokyo, started by citizens who believe 'kitchen waste is a treasure.' It collects and composts the kitchen waste of around 200 households and grows vegetables and flowers pesticide-free as a food-cycle garden. Naomi Shimpo studied its management and governance in detail in her 2021 and 2024 papers.
acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com+3