A chōnaikai (町内会) is a Japanese local community of citizens or a form of neighborhood association.
This resulted in chōnaikai, informal associations taking the place of former village or neighbourhood communities.
During World War II, these associations were involved in many points: During the Occupation of Japan, the American provisional government forbade them.
People in rented rooms, typically students or young salary men, are said to be member of the household of the landowner.
Because apartment tenants reside in the community temporarily, and the associations are geared toward homeowners and families, they are under no social pressure to join.