Tonarigumi

The Neighborhood Association (隣組, Tonarigumi) was the smallest unit of the national mobilization program established by the Japanese government in World War II.

The system was formalized on 11 September 1940 by order of the Home Ministry (Japan) under Imperial Rule Assistance Association by the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe.

A network of informants was established linking every neighborhood association with the Tokkō Police to watch for infractions of national laws and suspect political or moral behavior.

[5] Later in the Pacific War the tonarigumi received basic military training to serve as observers for enemy planes over cities or suspicious boats along the coasts.

Formally abolished in 1947 by the American occupation authorities, the system survives to a certain extent in the modern chonaikai, or jichikai which are nominally independent voluntary associations, but which retain a quasi-governmental status in that they have limited responsibility for local administration and coordination of activities such as neighborhood watch and disaster relief.